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Christian Frank

Mr. Chaltry

AP English Language & Composition

13 February 2020

Synthesis Essay

Since the discovery of the ability to harness electricity by Benjamin

Franklin in the 1700s, people have worried about energy and how they

should obtain it. Majority of history shows coal as being the main source of

power, but gas is another arguable most used or most important power

source. The issue with the burning of fossil fuels is the repercussions of using

them, the environment can be affected, the ozone layer is being torn apart,

and the air pollution is affecting human life expectancies. These reasons

have caused many people to wonder about the possibility and probability of

clean energy. Wind farms are looking more and more possible on a smaller

scale for individuals. The most important factors that an agency or individual

should consider when deciding whether to establish a wind farm are how

renewable they are, how efficient they are, and how they are to be set up.

Pollution is a huge issue of the 21st century and fossil fuel consumption

is a big contributor to that pollution. Unlike fossil fuels, windmills provide

clean energy that is renewable and not a finite source, Source B talks about

the how only one wind turbine can power up to 600 homes by itself, all the
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while not polluting the air and not diminishing the quantity of wind. This

proves useful for wanting to establish a wind farm as there is no limit to the

amount of wind that you can potentially harvest in terms of energy, which

could be a major factor in deciding in whether to establish a windfarm or not.

Sustainability is a major concern with any business and with wind never

running out, windmills may just be the most reliable source of electricity

available thus far. With the intense need of electricity, and the lack of

competition in the wind farm way of life, the 2 major risks of business are

nullified. Those risks are whether the product being sold will be in demand

for a long time, and if there are competitors to buy you out or suffocate your

smaller just starting local business. Although the renewability of windfarms is

a large reason in deciding to establish one, it is not the only reason as

efficiency is another huge factor to consider.

It is commonly known that it is better to work smarter, not harder, in

other words that saying is emphasizing to be efficient. Efficiency is critically

important when it comes to a business or profession and windfarms are no

exception. Luckily, Wind energy is by far the most efficient in converting fuel

to electricity, as shown by Source F, the first graph shows that wind energy is

roughly forty times more efficient in converting fuel to electricity than the

most used fuel, coal, and about twice as efficient than its closest

competition, geothermal power. With an eleven hundred and sixty-four

conversion percentage, wind power is unbelievably efficient. The second

chart in Source F shows the cost to produce one MWh of electricity; natural
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gas is the least expensive to process being thirty two percent less than the

cost to produce wind energy, coal energy is cheaper to produce than wind by

about two percent. The immense efficiency of a windfarm justifies the slight

cost increase to utilize wind over other sources. Just like with anything,

efficiency is desired, and knowing that wind is the most efficient source of

power is a huge factor in deciding to establish a windfarm or not. The only

other point that rival's efficiency or renewability is how a windfarm is to be

set up

In order to establish a successful windfarm, there are certain

conditions that support and do not support windfarms. Source A shows an

image of windmills in how they would be set up in a windfarm, the image

shows off how many windmills can be fit in a certain amount of space and

what biomes they can be set up in. More windmills at a windfarm equates to

more energy produced and more money brought in, and what would be the

purpose of creating a windfarm if not to make money, or save money?

Windmills work the best in open spaces to avoid congestion of the breeze

that pushes the blades of each windmill. To see those windmills standing and

working in a clear and open space can help an aspiring windfarm owner

understand that windmills can be in a close proximity and need to be in open

areas for the biggest effect. Knowing where to place windmills for a wind

farm is extremely vital because poor placement can lead to failure overall.

Windfarms could potentially play a large role in the future; clean

energy is inevitable and wind power will be the first large step. All these
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people an agency or individual should consider when deciding whether to

establish a wind farm are how renewable they are, how efficient they are,

and how they are to be set up. Without proper consideration, all windfarms

will fail.