Where the Wind Blows
For American Indians, respect for nature is part of their heritage. They are now leading the way in providing clean energy to homes and businesses. They are calling on the wind to help us all.
For years, scientists have warned people about the dangers of burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil. Fossil fuels are made from the remains of plants buried long ago. Burning these fuels to create energy harms the environment.
Several American Indian nations are now using wind to create energy instead. Wind does not pollute air, land, and water the way burning fuel does. Wind power creates electricity and provides a healthier environment.
A Clean Source
The Rosebud Sioux have a reservation in South Dakota. In 2005, they finished building the first American Indian-owned wind turbine. A wind turbine is a giant windmill with three huge blades. It is located near the town of St. Francis, in the central part of the state. The Rosebud built a second turbine at the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota.
The Sioux hope to expand this project. They feel good about helping the environment. The Rosebud also hope that selling electricity will provide money for the people who live on their reservations.
Wind and the Future
Most electricity generated in the United States comes from power plants that run on oil or coal. When they burn these fuels, the power plants send harmful pollutants into the air. The plants also release large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun. The trapped heat may cause global warming, a rise in the world's temperatures.
Wind energy, however, is clean. To generate electricity from the wind, the Rosebud Sioux spent $1.2 million to build a wind turbine on its reservation in South Dakota. The Sioux's South Dakota turbine stands on a 190-foot tower.
When the wind blows, the turbine's blades turn. The turbines begin producing electricity when the wind speed exceeds 8 miles an hour. Cables carry that electricity to power lines. It then flows through the lines to homes and businesses. The turbine can generate enough power to supply energy to more than 200 homes.
The Rosebud Sioux want to build 16 more turbines. Their turbines would then produce enough electricity to power about 7,500 homes. The wind blows a lot in North and South Dakota. According to one estimate, those two states could produce enough wind energy to supply half the United States with electricity.