Question

What is the main idea of this passage?

the consumption of energy in the United States

the effect of wind farming on the natural environment

the role of AWEA in energy conservation

the conservation of forests and wildlife population

Answer 1

Note: this is the passage

What is wind farming? It is the process of turning the force of the wind into electrical energy. A wind farm is a collection of wind towers that are hundreds of feet tall. Each tower has blades that are spun by the wind. The blades turn a turbine, which generates electricity. The towers are spread in a pattern designed to take the best advantage of the available wind. When we think of farms, we naturally think of wide-open spaces with a lot of flat, fertile land. The fact is, though, that wind farms can be “cultivated” on flat land, on mountain ridges, in valleys, and even in the ocean.

There is much debate about where wind farms should be developed. Some of the most heated arguments against wind farms are related to animal protection and the preservation of the scenic beauty of nature. Critics say that, in certain areas, wind farms can destroy bird populations. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) maintains that for every one bird death caused by wind towers, there are at least ten thousand bird deaths caused by other factors. For this reason, a wind farm’s acceptance, viability, and worth often depends on its location.

In 2007, the state of Delaware debated whether to put a wind farm off its coastline or to develop a new fossil-fuel power plant. At the time, coastal residents and resort owners worried about the impact a wind farm development would have on tourism. They were concerned that the sight of the tall towers offshore would make tourists less likely to visit. It turns out, however, that according to the AWEA, tourism can sometimes increase with the development of a wind farm.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, energy consumption in the United States is fairly evenly split among transportation (27 percent), industry (38 percent), and residential/commercial (36 percent). If we’re going to use energy in current quantities, and if energy is essential to all these element of society, then we should all help support the development of alternatives.