Question

How effective is the author’s response to the counterclaim in Paragraph 4 that wind turbines create noise pollution?

Ineffective; the author ignores the counterclaim and instead provides additional details about jobs created by wind farms.

Ineffective; the author avoids addressing the counterclaim by attacking the argument itself.

Effective; the author refutes the counterclaim by providing evidence that wind turbines produce less noise than the wind itself.

Effective; the author acknowledges the counterclaim and explains why the concern about noise is a minor issue.

Answer 1

Environmental Benefits of Wind Energy
Wind energy is a clean, renewable form of energy that has very little impact on the surrounding environment. It doesn’t pollute the air like power plants do. Power plants use fossil fuels that emit pollutants and greenhouse gases into the air. Wind power doesn’t need water to run, so it doesn’t deplete valuable resources. It also doesn’t pollute rivers, lakes, and streams. Even though wind farms are spaced over a large area, the wind turbines actually cover only a small portion of the land. Consequently, there is little impact on crops and the grazing of livestock. And since there is nothing to be mined, the land is not adversely affected. Wind farms can also be located offshore in the ocean or in lakes.

There is some concern about the noise that is generated by wind turbines. However, according to the Wind Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement prepared by the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM), design changes have reduced the noise turbines make. In fact, the sound of the wind usually masks the noise. With the newer, more efficient models, wind is converted into rotational torque and less acoustic noise. Torque is a force that produces rotation. The noise also decreases when towers are positioned properly and are insulated well. Additionally, since wind turbines are located primarily in rural areas or at sea, it is unlikely that noise pollution will be a major issue.

Answer 2

@Elsa213

Answer 3

@Allison