The need for alternative fuel sources has been a topic of hot debate and dire concern for decades. It is only as we reach points of energy catastrophe and economic peril that the issue is taken seriously. Researchers and scientists in many countries have been planning for this time with research and practice in wind farms. The United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom have all begun investing in wind technology.

Wind farms exist in rural areas across America. These are on shore wind farms and have been in use since the 1970’s. Offshore wind farms mimic the same pattern of onshore wind farms on the ocean floor close to the coast. The limiting factor in offshore wind farms is the topography of the ocean floor. Shallow waters are required for financially feasible offshore wind farm. Onshore wind farms might be a better solution for areas with large plains and flat lands. Wind farms have stood in California’s Central Valley for nearly 3 decades. California uses the power generated by its central valley wind farms to add to the state’s supply of fossil fuels.

Great Britain plans to have the country powered by wind energy by 2020. This would be possible in major part to the topography of the ocean floor surrounding Great Britain. The floor is shelved and shallow making the cost of installing turbines manageable. The ideal spot for an offshore wind farm in the United States would be Cape Cod. The pacific coast of the United States is steep and treacherous making onshore wind farms a better option.

Off shore wind power generation is more consistent than onshore wind turbines because winds at sea are more consistent, stronger, and the turbines can be much larger. However, offshore wind generated power is only one piece of the wind power puzzle. Benefits of onshore power farms are sources of income for landowners, tax benefits, and job creation.

The cost of turbines seems to be a sticking point for those selling the technology. Although the turbines pay themselves off faster than any other source of energy infrastructure, there is still apprehension at investing such a large sum in a still developing technology. Even without complete support, wind power has a yearly production of more than 100 billion kilowatt hours worldwide.

Interest in wind power is global. Denmark, Australia, India and even Morocco already have wind farms generating portions of their countries power. Many experts in alternative fuels believe that wind power will be an excellent option for fostering independence in developing nations.

The world is finally seeing major movement with alternative energy solutions with new U.S. President Obama. More money is going to be allocated to funding alternative energy projects and many jobs will be created. Wind energy will generate almost 5 jobs for every 1 mega watt of energy installed through wind farms.

Is wind electricity the solution for everyone to be electricity self sufficient? Many parts of the country have sufficient consistent wind to make sufficient electricity to serve everyones needs.