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Every time you open up your utility bill, you realize something needs to be done about out oil reliance. Here is a guide to wind energy in Ohio, where something is starting to be done about it.
Most of the states in the United States have the capacity to harness some sort of wind energy. The three largest wind energy producing states, Texas, North Dakota and Kansas, all produce major amounts of electricity for their population, but other states still manage to satisfy some of their energy needs through wind energy. The amount of wind energy Ohio produces is one example of this.
When it comes to wind energy, Ohio ranks 36th in the US in amount of wind energy produced. This may be because wind energy in Ohio is a relatively new phenomenon, with the first wind farm being built in the state in 2003. There are just seven wind farms installed in Ohio, with only three of these farms being commercial wind energy areas. This does not mean that the state of Ohio is lacking in wind energy capacity, however, as there is the potential to produce up to 410 MW of electricity per year throughout the area.
The first wind farm built in Ohio was the Bowling Green Municipal wind energy project, with the energy here purchased by Bowling Green Municipal. This project was constructed in 2003, and it is small – with only two turbines located here. The total amount of electricity production per year at this farm is 3.6 MW. The next wind farm built in Ohio was the AMP-Ohio/ Green Mt Energy Wind Farm, which was built in 2004. This farm was both constructed by and is run by American Municipal Energy – Ohio. This wind farm also has the same amount of turbines (two) and produces the same amount of electricity (3.6 MW) as the Bowling Green Municipal wind energy project.
The newest place for wind energy Ohio has to offer is located at the Cleveland Great Lakes Science Center, and it’s part of the Leadership Cleveland and Sustainable Cleveland projects. Producing just .222 MW per year (and having only one small turbine) this new wind farm (built in 2006) is more of a pilot project than a fully functional wind farm.
While Ohio may not be the world’s (or even the country’s) largest producer of wind energy, it is still on its way to supplying many of its households with electricity created with wind energy. The potential for wind energy production is much higher in some of the other states in the United States – the energy found in Texas and North Dakota alone, if properly harnessed, would be enough to energy the entire country.
