ne of Nature's free gifts, the airflow around our planet, is being used
as a source of clean, renewable energy. Located in places where the wind
blows at an average speed of at least 14 mph, wind turbines or modern
windmills use a strong, steady windflow to create electricity-with no
pollution and very little impact on the land. The windier the location,
the more energy can be produced, and the lower the cost. Good sites for
wind power are widely available throughout the United States and other
countries. Most wind power is produced by large groups of turbines on
wind farms. These farms only use about 5% of the land where they are located
for turbines, equipment, and access roads, so other important land uses
like farming and grazing can continue. In California, wind energy powers
the homes of more than one million people. If fully developed, the wind
power technology that we have today could supply about 20% of all the
electricity needed in the U.S., taking the place of phased out coal-powered
plants.
ne of Nature's free gifts, the airflow around our planet, is being used
as a source of clean, renewable energy. Located in places where the wind
blows at an average speed of at least 14 mph, wind turbines or modern
windmills use a strong, steady windflow to create electricity-with no
pollution and very little impact on the land. The windier the location,
the more energy can be produced, and the lower the cost. Good sites for
wind power are widely available throughout the United States and other
countries. Most wind power is produced by large groups of turbines on
wind farms. These farms only use about 5% of the land where they are located
for turbines, equipment, and access roads, so other important land uses
like farming and grazing can continue. In California, wind energy powers
the homes of more than one million people. If fully developed, the wind
power technology that we have today could supply about 20% of all the
electricity needed in the U.S., taking the place of phased out coal-powered
plants. 
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