How feasible is a wind turbine for generating electricity for saving on energy costs?

Answer 1

Texas currently leads the US in kW hours of "windtricity" produced (recently beat out California), but windtricity is currently slightly more expensive that electricity produced using fossil fuels or natural gas. So wind turbines don't currently save money on energy costs for the purpose of generating electricity in commercial amounts.

A home wind turbine would in fact defray a part of the electricity cost for running a single-family dwelling, but it would take some time before the equipment paid for itself. How much time is a function of the efficiency of the turbine and the availability of wind in the area.

Answer 2

Setting up wind turbines is very "front-end" expensive, and requires a large investment for building and erecting an array of them in a nice windy spot. However, once there, the maintenance costs are relatively low, and the output from them consequently is almost all "gravy" without any fear of the wind ever stopping blowing.

Below is a link to a working wind farm in PA you can see very clearly from the Interstate. Very cool.

Answer 3

It fully depends on the design of the turbine, and how much wind you get. There has been some concerns about EM emissions from these generators affecting plant and animal life in the area, but that is for large turbine farms.

Answer 4

They work, but depending on what you want to run, it can require quite a few. A wind farm to run the east coast would literally block ocean traffic in the Atlantic. The better use would be as a supplement. For personal use it is conceivable.

Answer 5

It depends entirely upon where you live...
If the wind is favorable, it is a good idea...
Not enough wind and it won't work..

Answer 6

it's non-polluting & is really good.