Thesis+Based+Research+Assignment

Mike Lawrence Senior Seminar Thesis-Based Research

Introduction

I decided to choose a topic involving possible solutions to the impending problems of the deteriorating state of the Earth, and its now prevalent pollution. I researched the field and saw wind and solar power as possibilities for the future. I narrowed down my field to wind power because covering the two would end in a very broad presentation.

A very powerful driving question to my topic is, “what will the world do in response to the global energy and pollution crisis?” This is a big part of my project, and is part of the reason I decided to go down this path for my presentation.

To fully answer the driving question, research about the effectiveness and the possible future of wind power was needed to address the driving question.

Research

A. Madsen, Birger T. "The Use of Wind Power Should Be Increased." //Opposing Viewpoints: Global Resources//. Ed. Helen Cothran. San Diego : Greenhaven Press, 2004. //Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center//. Gale. Springfield Township High School. 9 Oct. 2008 .

1. In the early 1980s, the average turbine was 20 meters high with a 26-kilowatt (kW) generator and a rotor diameter of 10.5 meters. A typical turbine today may be perched 55 meters high, have rotors with a diameter of around 50-60 meters and a capacity of up to 1,650 kW. 2. Since 1992, more commercial wind farms have been installed in more countries than ever before. There are now 40,000 turbines in 40 countries, and the world's wind energy capacity is growing at nearly 27 per cent annually. 3. The world's richest wind resources are found in North America, China and the former Soviet states, particularly those in Central Asia, we believe that wind power could provide at least 20 per cent of every continent's energy needs. 4. Birger T. Madsen believes that the world would greatly benefit from the fruitful energy production of wind turbines. As a healthy way to keep the Earth from any more pollutants created by power plants and other human resources. 5. Madsen, “The two notable champions of wind power are Denmark and Germany. Ferociously anti-nuclear, the public in both these countries studied their energy options before giving wind a "green light". Their diligence is now paying off at home and abroad, as their turbines blow a fresh breeze into global energy production.”

B. Jim Motavalli. "Wind Energy Benefits the Environment." //Opposing Viewpoints: Conserving the Environment//. Ed. Douglas Dupler. Detroit : Greenhaven Press, 2006. //Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center//. Gale. Springfield Township High School. 9 Oct. 2008 .


 * 1) Wind energy is zero-emissions energy, a renewable resource that is one of our last best hopes for staving off devastating climate change.
 * 2) Wind energy has grown 28 percent annually over the last five years, and the so-called "installed capacity" (the generating power of working wind turbines) doubles every three years: It is the fastest-growing energy source in the world.
 * 3) North Dakota consumers would save $363 million in lower electricity bills annually if the standard were combined with improvements in energy efficiency.
 * 4) Jim Motavalli is very outspoken, saying that the U.S. government should invest more time and money into the wind power market.
 * 5) Motavelli, “The U.S. could go further, and states with big wind resources would reap major rewards. If Congress were to establish a 20 percent national renewable energy standard by 2020 (requiring utilities to sell a fifth of their energy from sustainable sources), the Union of Concerned Scientists reports, wind -rich North Dakota could gain $1.4 billion in new investment from wind and other renewables.”

C. American Wind Energy Association. "The Use of Wind Energy Should Be Increased." //At Issue: What Energy Sources Should Be Pursued?//. Ed. Stuart A. Kallen. San Diego : Greenhaven Press, 2005. //Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center//. Gale. Springfield Township High School. 9 Oct. 2008 .


 * 1) Wind energy is a particularly appealing way to generate electricity because it is essentially pollution-free. More than half of all the electricity that is used in the U.S. is generated from burning coal, and in the process, large amounts of toxic metals, air pollutants, and greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere.
 * 2) Development of 10% of the wind potential in the 10 windiest U.S. states would provide more than enough energy to displace emissions from the nation's coal-fired power plants and eliminate the nation's major source of acid rain; reduce total U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide (the most important greenhouse gas) by almost a third and world emissions of CO2 by 4%.
 * 3) Wind farms can revitalize the economy of rural communities, providing steady income through lease or royalty payments to farmers and other landowners. Although leasing arrangements can vary widely, a reasonable estimate for income to a landowner from a single utility-scale turbine is about $2,000 a year or more, depending on the wind resource, the size of the turbine, and other factors.
 * 4) The author, a member of the American Wind Energy Association believes America needs to act now in the installation of wind farms.
 * 5) “ Wind power currently provides more than 20% of the electricity distributed by Energia Hidroelectrica de Navarra, the regional electric utility of the industrial state of Navarra in northern Spain.”

D. Florence, Joseph. "Wind Power Is Affordable and Environmentally Friendly." //Opposing Viewpoints: Global Resources//. Ed. David M. Haugen. Detroit : Greenhaven Press, 2008. //Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center//. Gale. Springfield Township High School. 10 Oct. 2008 .


 * 1) Denmark's 3,100 megawatts of wind capacity meet 20 percent of its electricity needs, the largest share in any country.
 * 2) The U.S. has installed 9,100 megawatts of wind power capacity. The U.S. wind industry installed a record-breaking 2,400 megawatts of wind power in 2005, up from installing just 370 megawatts in 2004 and 1,700 megawatts in 2003.
 * 3) Canada's installed wind capacity of 680 megawatts at the end of 2005 is expected to increase to 1,200 megawatts by the end of 2006.
 * 4) Joseph Florence believes America and other world powers should highly consider and sooner than later create more wind farms to produce their electrical energy.
 * 5) Florence, “While three-quarters of all wind power has been installed in only five countries, the wind power installed in the rest of the world has grown by an average of 35 percent per year over the past ten years. Australia's wind capacity almost doubled in 2005 to 710 megawatts.”

E. Flavin, Christopher. "The Use of Wind Power Should Be Increased." //Opposing Viewpoints: Global Resources//. Ed. Charles P. Cozic. San Diego : Greenhaven Press, 1998. //Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center//. Gale. Springfield Township High School. 10 Oct. 2008 .


 * 1) Wind power is being propelled largely by its environmental advantages. Unlike coal-fired power plants, the leading source of electricity today, wind power produces no health-damaging air pollution or acid rain. Nor does it produce carbon dioxide—the leading greenhouse gas now destabilizing the world's atmosphere.
 * 2) If the world's roughly 25,000 wind turbines were spinning simultaneously, they could light 122 million 40-watt light bulbs or power over a million suburban homes. In the windy north German state of Schleswig-Holstein, wind power already provides 8 percent of the electricity.
 * 3) Europe is now home to most of the world's leading wind power companies, which are introducing larger and more cost-effective models. Unlike the United States, where most development has consisted of large groups of 20 to 100 turbines, called " wind farms," Denmark and Germany have pursued a decentralized approach to wind power development.
 * 4) Christopher Flavin believes that America should look to the leadership that Europe has taken, and invest more money into the development of wind farms and alternate power sources.
 * 5) Flavin, “Combined with other renewable energy sources such as solar and geothermal power, and by a new generation of gas-fired micro- power plants located in office and apartment buildings, wind power could help transform the world electricity system. These technologies could quickly replace coal and nuclear power —which together now supply two-thirds of the world's electricity—and allow a sharp reduction in world carbon emissions.”

F. Brown, Lester R. "Using Renewable Energy Will Help Conserve the Environment." //Current Controversies: Conserving the Environment//. Ed. John Woodward and Jennifer Skancke. Detroit : Greenhaven Press, 2006. //Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center//. Gale. Springfield Township High School. 10 Oct. 2008 .


 * 1) In the United States, a national wind resource inventory published in 1991 indicates enough harnessable wind energy exists in just three states—North Dakota, Kansas and Texas—to satisfy national electricity needs.
 * 2) The incentives for switching to a wind /hydrogen system could come partly from restructuring global energy subsidies—shifting the $210 billion in annual fossil fuel subsidies to the development of wind energy, hydrogen generators, and kits to convert engines from gasoline to hydrogen.
 * 3) Energy giants Shell and BP have begun investing in wind power, and major corporations such as General Electric and ABB, a company that produces technology systems, are now in the wind - power business.
 * 4) Lester Brown feels that together, as a world, there are many ways to wean off of gasoline and nuclear power. Wind, solar, and hydrogen sources can help the environment, and kick start many local economies.
 * 5) Brown, “It is time to consider an all-out effort to develop wind resources, given the enormous wind -generating potential and the associated benefits of climate stabilization. Instead of doubling wind - power generation every 30 months or so, perhaps we should aim to double wind -electric generation each year for the next several years. Costs would drop precipitously, giving wind -generated electricity an even greater advantage over fossil fuels.”

G. Council, National Economic. "Developing a Variety of Renewables Can Best Solve the Energy Crisis." //Opposing Viewpoints: Energy Alternatives//. Ed. Barbara Passero. Detroit : Greenhaven Press, 2006. //Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center//. Gale. Springfield Township High School. 10 Oct. 2008 .


 * 1) Wind energy is one of the world's fastest-growing energy technologies. In 2005, the U.S. wind energy industry installed more than 2,300 megawatts (MW) of new wind energy capacity—or over $3 billion worth of new generating equipment—in 22 states.
 * 2) Areas with good- wind resources have the potential to supply up to 20% of the electricity consumption of the United States
 * 3) To expand the generation of clean energy from wind, the President's 2007 Budget includes $44 million for wind energy research, a $5 million increase.
 * 4) The author feels that a majority of the energy used in America can be diverted into the use of renewable energy sources including nuclear, solar, wind, ethanol, and hydrogen.
 * 5) Barbara Passero, “In his 2006 State of the Union address, President George W. Bush announced the Advanced Energy Initiative, committing the United States to reduced reliance on petroleum-based energy sources, especially foreign oil. In the following excerpt from the initiative, the National Economic Council outlines what it considers necessary steps for achieving Bush's goal of cutting imports of Mideast oil by 75 percent by 2025.”

H. U.S. Government Accountability Office. "Wind Power Can Benefit Farmers and Rural Communities." //Current Controversies: Alternative Energy Sources//. Ed. Darrin Gunkel. Detroit : Greenhaven Press, 2006. //Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center//. Gale. Springfield Township High School. 10 Oct. 2008 .


 * 1) The income farmers receive from wind projects located on their land is relatively stable compared with the income they derive from crop and livestock production.
 * 2) income from wind turbines located on a farmer's land generally does not fluctuate significantly, although higher or lower average wind speeds from one year to another can affect the amount of royalty payments a farmer receives.
 * 3) The construction and operation of a large wind project in a rural county is likely to increase the county's general level of economic activity and wealth. Constructing a large wind power project with several dozen turbines requires the services of multiple businesses and scores of skilled and unskilled workers, as well as the purchase of equipment and material, such as turbines, towers, asphalt, cement, concrete, and electrical cables.
 * 4) The U.S. accountability office feels that using farmers lands to install wind turbines in beneficial to them because of the royalty checks from power companies for the leases on their lands. Also the construction would spark local economies by the need for men and materials.
 * 5) “Wind power does not currently contribute significantly to total farm income in the 10 states with the highest installed wind power capacity, although some individual farmers and rural communities have benefited considerably from this energy source. However, wind projects located on farmland have increased some individual farmers' income significantly, according to our site visits and analysis.”

Based on my research, my specific stance on this topic is that, the economic, environmental, and the state of oil needs, wind power, amongst other renewable energy sources are beneficial for powering countries.

Initial Thesis: The potential use of wind power can be a leading source of energy in a greener future by reducing the use of fossil fuels, serving as a renewable source of energy, and relieving the economic stress of gasoline.

Findings & Support

a. Support: G3, H3, C3
 * 1) Wind power and wind farms help spark the job market.

a. Support: B3, C2, D2, F1
 * 1) Windy states can produce immense amounts of power.

a. Support: A2, B2, C2, D2, D3, G1
 * 1) The use of wind power is increasing.

a. Support: B1, C1, C2, E1, G3
 * 1) Wind power is very clean.

a. Support: A1, B3, D1, D2, D3, E2, G1
 * 1) Wind farming accumulates great amounts of energy for surrounding areas.

Process Reflection

I learned much of the information I know now about wind power from this assignment. Having to read the information I gathered thoroughly made me further my knowledge of wind power, and how much power it actually produces. The research also gave me a better background with the subject for me to agree with, such as the past of wind farming, and not just how I am focusing on the future of wind farming, and having it as a future power source.

Higher-order thinking skills used on this helped me gather all of my information. Being able to constructively order all of sources in a list like this required thinking above just gathering information and getting information out of them, which was a good way to start, but was also very simple.

I need to improve my ability to find a varying sort of resources. I think this because I found much of my information at the gale net opposing resources center. For this topic that worked well, but combining this with book sources would be beneficial to keep my sources wide-ranging.

I thought that wind turbines really were only used along the rolling planes of desolate locations. Wind farms are also very effective went put out at sea to mine sea wind.

Connections

My findings were beneficial to my topic because all of this information concerning wind power is going to be used in my project. Specific numbers and specs of the turbines used and the power they collect, as well as the funding required, and economic benefits are something that is vital to the information presented in my project.

To move forward in this project, I needed this information. I feel fairly passionate and interested in the topic so including this information, I feel I am prepared to begin my project. Without having this research, my project would just be point of view without any facts behind it to back it up.