Wind blowing away carbon emissions

April 9, 2014 | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

Rapid development of the U.S. wind energy industry has led to significant reductions in power sector carbon emissions -- by 96 million metric tons, or 4.4 percent -- according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).

Credit: AWEA

At the end of 2013, there were more than 12,000 MW of wind energy under construction. When all 12,000 MW have completed construction, operational wind projects in the U.S. will reduce power section emission by a total of 117 million tons annually, or more than 5.3 percent of power sector emissions, AWEA predicts. Wind energy can also reduce the amount of water evaporated during the conventional power plant cooling process. In 2013, wind energy saved 36.5 billion gallons of water, according to AWEA.

Several independent grid operators have analyzed wind energy and found that it can successfully reduce emissions.

For example, according to a study, in a scenario where 20 percent wind energy served the region, CO2 emissions were reduced by 80 million tons, or 18 percent, while reducing the cost of producing electricity by more than $9 billion. The study was conducted by PJM, the Mid-Atlantic grid operator. Further, a 2013 study covering the Western region of the U.S. found that producing 33 percent of the region's electricity from wind and solar would reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 34 percent.

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http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/wind-blowing-away-carbon-emissions/2014-04-09