By Jack Heppner
The
fuel that drove economies in the 19th century was mostly coal. In
the 20th century it was oil. What will it be in the 21st
century?
Coal
still fuels many electricity plants around the world but continues to pollute.
And we are running out of oil. All oil-producing countries have now reached
“peak oil” and production of this once ubiquitous fossil fuel is declining
world-wide.
In
light of these realities, one of the energy alternatives the world is embracing
is the wind. And fortunately, many countries of the world are “wind rich.”
For
example, China’s
wind-swept plains and mountain ridges have enough harnessable wind energy to
double its current electrical generating capacity. And faced with an
ever-increasing demand for energy and a major pollution problem, that country
is embracing the wind with lightening speed. Just a few years ago it was
building coal-fired electrical plants by the dozen every year. But now it is in
the process of building at least ten gigantic wind farms that will produce 105
gigawatts of power once completed.
But
it is not only China.
About 70 countries around the world are beginning to embrace the wind. Europe is right out front. Already tapping its off-shore
wind potential, it is quite possible that by 2020 wind could supply all of Europe’s residential electrical needs.
Even
the USA
is beginning to cash in on its wind riches. Texas, now running out of oil, is rapidly
erecting wind farms. By 2020 it will produce enough electricity for that
state’s needs and begin exporting power. From California
to South Dakota to Maine, and most points in between, the story
is similar. The USA
is waking up to the wind.
That
brings me to our own back yard in Canada. With its vast, wide-swept
expanses, Canada
has perhaps the highest wind-to-population ratios in the world. Virtually all
Canadian provinces have identified many locations for potential wind farms and
construction is moving ahead briskly.
There
is no question in my mind that history will record how the present generation
abandoned coal and oil for wind to supply its energy needs.
In
light of these amazing developments, the optics are really very bad for Canada
to continue exploiting the tars sands of Alberta which create the dirtiest oil on
the planet. Alberta
is richer in wind than oil – and it is non-polluting and renewable. Indeed a
person I know who moved there reported that if the wind ever dies down most
Albertans fall to the ground because they are so used to leaning into the wind,
eh. Every thinking Canadian should oppose the tar sands development.
But what does all this mean for Southeastern Manitoba. For one we should all support wind
farm development in our area. Then keep our eyes open to technology that will
allow many of us to draw electrical energy from wind turbines on our
properties. I know of at least one wind turbine already turning in the South
East. Many more will begin their spin in the years to come.