Why Wind Power?

Have you been wondering how you can make a big impact with a little action? The answer is here! Support wind power and you’ll make a positive impact on:

Environment

Wind power is the most affordable zero-emission source of electricity. In contrast to fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, wind power emits no:

• Carbon dioxide, which causes climate change.
• Sulfur dioxide, which causes acid rain and soot.
• Nitrogen dioxide, which causes smog.
• Mercury, which causes severe neurological disorders in people and animals, particularly fish. Electricity generated from coal is a major source of mercury pollution.
• Radioactive waste, unlike nuclear power. There is still no long-term solution for the disposal of radioactive waste in this country.

Climate Change

• The burning of fossil fuels releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Because carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, this causes climate change, which also is known as global warming. The U.S. uses 25% of the world’s energy, but has only 5% of the world population. Climate change caused by our pollution will first impact the most disadvantaged peoples of our community and the world. We have a responsibility to address our high dirty energy use by creating cleaner energy supply here in New England.

When wind power is produced, it reduces the amount of fossil fuels needed to meet our demand for electricity. In New England, 1,000 kilowatt hours of wind power reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by over 1,100 pounds. For reference, an average home uses 500 kilowatt hours a month.

• Use our handy calculator to find out how to meet your energy needs with wind power and reduce your climate change impact!

Economy

Most of New England’s electricity supply comes from sources that are imported from outside the region or outside the country. As a result, when we import power, we export dollars and jobs. Wind power represents an opportunity to create jobs here in New England and to keep rate-payer dollars here as well. That is why Mass Energy is focused on supporting wind projects in New England–and gives strong preference to projects in Massachusetts.

Energy Independence

The United States imports a significant percentage of its energy — particularly in the form of oil and natural gas. New England is especially dependent on foreign sources. Any disruption of oil or natural gas supplies would hit this region hard. However, wind power offers New Englanders the opportunity to harness a local resource. Generating wind power is an essential step, among many, to achieving energy independence here in New England.

Health

Most of the electricity generated in New England is from oil, coal, natural gas, and trash. All of these sources emit health-damaging pollutants, especially smog-forming nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and mercury.

A study conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that the two of the dirtiest coal-fired power plants in Massachusetts caused serious health impacts. Results included:¹

• 53 premature deaths per year from Salem Harbor and 106 premature deaths per year from Brayton Point
• 570 emergency room visits per year from Salem Harbor and 1,140 emergency room visits per year from Brayton Point
• 14,400 asthma attacks per year from Salem Harbor and 28,900 asthma attacks per year from Brayton Point

Beyond making it unnecessary for additional dirty facilities to be built, when wind power is generated, it must be entered directly into the grid. It often “backs off,” or turns down, existing fossil fuel power plants, thereby reducing health risks.

1 Levy, Jonathan. Et al. Estimated Public Health Impacts of Criteria Pollutant Air Emissions from the Salem Harbor and Brayton Point Power Plants. May 2000. Available online.