Wind of Change

Generating electricity from wind-power affects the environment. Some are beneficial others are not.

They include:

The source of energy is free.

Using it releases no pollutants that contribute to climate change or acid rain.

Wind-turbines can make a 'whooshing' sound that disturbs people near-by.

Some of the best sites for wind-farms are several kilometres from communities or the national grid.

The land on which a wind-farm is built can be used for other things e.g. rearing sheep.

Wind-turbines can be placed out at sea, but require extra-strong foundations.

Wind-turbines have to be tall.

Near-by hills and buildings cause air turbulence that reduces output.

Birds can be killed if they fly into the blades.

It is not always windy, so alternative supplies of electricity have to be provided.

Wind-turbines cannot turn at low wind speeds.

For safety, wind-turbines cannot work during very high winds.

Many of the windiest sites are in mountainous areas.

Use these suggestions as a starting point for drawing up a list of good and bad points about wind power. Include other ideas of your own.

Which ones would be important if a large wind-turbine were to be built near where you live? Would it be acceptable to the local people? Would it influence them if they owned the turbine and were able to have cheap electricity?

Would the same factors be important …
in the centre of a city (e.g. Glasgow, Newcastle)?
in the suburbs (e.g. Stourbridge, Kingston upon Thames)?
in flat countryside (e.g. Cheshire Plain, East Anglia)?
in mountainous areas, (e.g. Cumbria, Northern Scotland)?
on the coast, (e.g. Cornwall, Cardigan Bay)?

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