One alternative to fossil fuels is wind power. Wind power is one of the most promising new energy sources there is out there. "As of 1999, global wind energy capacity topped 10,000 megawatts." (Alternative Energy) Now the U.S. can generate more than 25,000 megawatts of electricity from the wind, which is enough to power about 7 million average American homes. "Less than 5% of the land would be occupied by wind equipment-the remaining 95% could continue to be used for farming or ranching." (Alternative Energy)

A researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory said "20 years ago, wind-generated electricity cost about 40 cents a kilowatt hour. Whereas today it costs about five to eight cents a kilowatt hour, depending on the site you're at." (Robert Thresher, NREL) If a household used wind power for 25% of its needs, it would spend only $4 or $5 dollars per month for it and the price of it is still dropping. By using wind power it can prevent 100 million metric tons of CO2 emissions every year and it can be a healthy way to power our lives.

Why switch to alternative energy?

Today, the world as we know it depends on non-renewable energy sources such as oil, natural gas, fossil fuels and coal. Fossil fuels currently provide more than 85% of all the energy consumed in the United States, which is nearly two-thirds of our electricity, and virtually all of our transportation fuels. Oil may be an easy way for us to get energy, but the oil supplies will not last forever and our addiction to oil is the cause of global warming. By switching to alternative energy it will cut back on greenhouse gas emissions and it will provide an clean energy that will always be dependable.