The cost of wind power is expected to continue to fall.
In 2005, many analysts expect wind power to cost about 2 cents per kilowatt hour, making
it the cheapest source of electricity available.
The cost of wind power has fallen dramatically in recent years, from about 38 cents per
kilowatt hour in the early 1980s to about 3 to 6 cents in early 2000. That is competitive
with the price of conventionally generated electricity in many parts of the United States,
but is still more expensive than current electric rates paid by Colorado customers, who
enjoy some of the lowest rates in the country. Colorodo citizens can buy it now http://www.cogreenpower.org/Signup.htm
Twenty utilities in Colorado offer a wind power option to their customers. As a result,
consumers can now decide to use a renewable, non-polluting source of electricity. However,
many customers remain unaware of this choice and of its environmental and economic
implications.
Wind energy has been harnessed by man for at least 4,000 years. By 1800,
there were an estimated 500,000 windmills in Europe and China. Wind power also played an
important role in settling the Great Plains. In 1930 more than 600,000 windmills were at
work in the U.S., pumping water and producing electricity.
Worldwide over 13,000 MW of wind power are installed, and that is expected to increase to
21,000 MW by 2003. Wind power is especially popular in Europe. The Germans have invested
more than $2 billion in wind power since 1990. Wind power provides 10% of the electricity
produced in Denmark, and wind turbines are now Denmark's leading export. England, Spain,
China, India and the US are also important markets. |
