Introduction
A small, 18-turbine wind farm in Velva, N.D., population 1,000, generates 12 megawatts, or enough electricity for 6,000 homes. (AFP/Getty Images/Karen Bleier)
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Wind has emerged as the nation's fastest-growing energy source, with thousands of towering turbines dotting the countryside from California to New England. Generating capacity has risen as much as 50 percent annually, encouraged by tax incentives and state laws mandating growth in renewable energy. Already, wind provides about 2 percent of electricity nationwide, and the Department of Energy says a 20 percent share by 2030 is possible with improvements in turbine technology, large-scale investment and better planning of the electrical grid. But opponents argue that wind turbines kill tens of thousands of birds and bats each year, mar pristine scenery and require far more land than traditional methods of power generation. The battle over wind is playing out in states such as Wisconsin, where the proximity of turbines to homes is an issue, and Vermont, where environmentalists are divided over two goals: protecting scenic vistas and reducing fossil fuel use.
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Jan. 13, 2023 |
Energy Warfare |
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Nov. 12, 2021 |
Clean Energy Transition |
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Jul. 19, 2018 |
Energy Policy |
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Aug. 02, 2017 |
Energy Policy |
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Nov. 11, 2016 |
Protecting the Power Grid |
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Apr. 29, 2016 |
Solar Energy Controversies |
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Jun. 05, 2015 |
Energy |
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Dec. 16, 2011 |
Fracking Controversy |
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May 20, 2011 |
Energy Policy |
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Apr. 01, 2011 |
Wind Power |
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Jul. 24, 2009 |
Energy and Climate |
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May 19, 2006 |
Energy Efficiency |
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Feb. 01, 2002 |
Energy Security |
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May 25, 2001 |
Energy Policy |
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Mar. 03, 2000 |
Energy and the Environment |
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Mar. 05, 1999 |
The Politics of Energy |
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Oct. 12, 1990 |
Energy Policy: Options for the 1990s |
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Jan. 30, 1981 |
Energy Policy: The New Administration |
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May 25, 1979 |
Public Confidence and Energy |
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Apr. 05, 1974 |
Continental Energy Sharing |
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Dec. 29, 1965 |
Electric Power Supply and Regulation |
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