Wind Power Cuts CO2 Emissions on Close to 1:1 Basis

Wind farms reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the overall electrical grid on close to a 1:1 basis.  Typical grids produce 800 g of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per KWh generated by their mixes of fossil, nuclear and renewable generation, and wind energy displaces virtually all of that.  It’s difficult to imagine the mindset in which one would assert that black is white and that wind energy actually increases greenhouse gas emissions or does not reduce them.  Yet many anti-wind commentary continues to make this claim based on an overlapping and baseless set of myths.

To summarize the reality of the situation:

• Wind turbines have very low full-lifecycle carbon emissions.
• Wind turbines require very little backup.
• Fossil fuel plants that provide warm standby for variances in grid electricity demand work efficiently.
• Wind farms cause only minor micro-climate effects.
• Wind turbines pay back their total environmental debt in months.

And so, on to the underpinnings of each of the realities and their attendant myths.

Wind Power Cuts CO2 Emissions on Close to 1:1 Basis