Figures 3 and 4. Vertical Axis and Home Wind Turbine Configurations.

Sources: http://www.symscape.com/files/images/flowind_darrieus.img_assist_custom.jpg, and http://techlime.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/home-wind-turbines.jpg.

Current and Future Trends in Wind Power Applications.

While the foregoing wind power initiatives would indicate that wind farms are already contributing a large percentage of the nation's energy needs, the research shows that this is far from the case. In this regard, the current total respective renewable energy consumption rates based on source in the United States are shown in Table 1 and Figure 3 below.

Table 1.

Respective Sources of U.S. Renewable Energy Consumption, 2004.

Source

Percentage

Biomass

Wind Energy

Solar Power

Conventional Hydroelectric

Geothermal Energy

Source: Tenenbaum at 751.

Figure 3. Respective Percentage of U.S. Renewable Energy Consumption, 2004.

Source: Based on tabular data in Tenebaum at p. 751.

Notwithstanding the relatively small contribution represented by wind power shown in Figure 3 above, this percentage amount represents a quantum increase in the...
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