Rooftop Wind Power

A storm is brewing in the world of wind power. Advocates of renewable energy praise energy companies that invest in wind farms as leaders in their industry, and many people enjoy the idea of hundreds of massive wind turbines powering their communities from hundreds of miles away. Other people, however, are more skeptical.

After the rolling blackouts that plagued California in 2001 and the massive blackout that shut down the East Coast in 2003, and with the threat of terrorist attacks, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes threatening to separate us from the power plants we rely on to maintain our way of life, Americans are beginning to want energy independence not only from foreign oil, but also from local energy monopolies at home.

Wind energy has been used in rural areas for millennia. It dates back to around 200 B.C. when it was used to pump water in China and some Middle Eastern areas. By the 11th century it had spread across the entire middle and was used for grinding foods such as corn, barley and wheat to make bread and other goods (U.S. Department of Energy, 2001). Development of water-pumping windmills supported the agricultural expansion of North America, empowering farmers and ranchers to settle in areas otherwise devoid of readily accessible water. They also contributed to the expansion of the world rail network, pumping water from wells to refill the boilers of steam locomotives used at the time. The multi-bladed windmill sitting on a lattice tower made of wood or steel remains an iconic symbol of rural America.

As Americans moved from the countryside into cities throughout the 20th century, they became increasingly reliant on infrastructure provided for us by local and state governments. In 1870, 50% of the US population worked as farmers and ranchers. Now fewer than 0.5% of Americans are directly employed in agriculture (check out the movie Food Inc. for more on this fascinating). Our literal and figurative distance from farms has enabled our productivity to increase, directly improving our standard of living, but it has also put us at risk due to the increasing size of the network separating us and the basic necessities that we need to sustain life.

We have taken note of this fact, and many Americans have begun taking action. A number have subscribed to the locavore movement, only eating food that is produced near where they live, and many have begun making their houses more efficient by switching over to CFL bulbs and more efficient appliances.

Urban populations now have the opportunity to invest in wind power to further reduce their dependence on the grid with rooftop wind turbines. While the economics of rooftop wind power are questionable, many early adopters of the technology are concerned less with whether the investment will save them money, and more with the peace of mind they get from becoming energy independent.