Finally Some Answers

Please excuse the late update on the answers to questions I previously posted, but, late or not, here they are:

Question # 1 ~ What is the feasible percentage of electricity in our nation that can come from wind (not all renewables, but just wind)?

I have found a couple different perspectives on this topic and therefore I will provide you with a couple different views (along with links to the corresponding articles) so that you can decide which you think is more feasible.

According to a report put out by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), wind has the potential to provide 20% of U.S. electricity by 2030. This type of growth in wind energy development would mean that several current hurdles would have to be jumped. Hurdles include reducing the cost of wind technologies, improving transmission infrastructure and developing domestic manufacturing. You can read more about the report here: http://www.energy.gov/news/6253.htm

Another article posted on treehugger.com shows a reveals some more optimistic outlooks for wind and renewables. From the most extreme, Al Gore's vision of 100% U.S. electricity from renewables in the next ten years, to Professor Peter Lund's projection that 40% of electricity could come from renewables by 2050. From that 40%, 25% could be generated wind with 20% of that from offshore wind development. Find out more in the article at www.treehugger.com.

Question #2 ~ What is this we keep hearing about issues with prairie chickens?

Here's how we are going to handle this one. I will give you my opinion and then some links to articles for you to get some more insight into the situation.

In my opinion, and you can determine its worth, we need to make sure we are environmentally responsible with any new technology or foreign object that we introduce into an ecosystem. On the other hand, you really have to make a pros and cons list for this type of thing. From what I can tell, our nation really needs wind energy development for so many reasons. The answer to this dilemma really is responsible planning. This topic just emphasizes the necessity to perform environmental studies and fatal flaw analyzes before the wind farm is sited. Wind energy development of the scale we are seeing today is so new that its also important to continue to do studies on the effects of development so that those effects can be minimized. The answer really is for wind energy developers to work with entities like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to lessen the effects of wind development on the prairie chicken and other affected species and environments.

Here are some links to get some more information:
Wind and Wildlife: Panhandle Power
Prairie Grouse Could Hamper Wind Energy Growth

WHEW! I have just come to the conclusion that answering all five questions in one post is going to make for one long entry. So, I will leave you with this today. Check back in the next couple of days for answers to questions 3-5. And please don't hesitate to post additional questions you have or comments on my answers. I welcome them!