Energy Needs
Energy is important to everyone. In fact, no one can survive without energy. Solar energy warms our planet and helps plants grow, and we need plants for food. Wind energy also helps plants grow through pollination.
Fuel for Thought
Meteorologists name winds. Global winds include polar easterlies that blow near the poles and trade winds that blow near the equator. Local winds include sea breezes and winds that form because of land formations, such as mountains and valleys.
Fuel for Thought
Coal is the world's primary source for electricity production. Power plants that use coal burn it to heat water and produce steam. The steam spins a turbine, which rotates a shaft in a generator. The generator converts the energy to electricity.
We need energy to produce electricity. Electricity powers everything from small appliances to huge industrial machines. We use electricity in our homes, schools, and businesses. Where does electricity come from? We generate it from several energy sources. According to the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA), the world currently generates 1.3 percent of its electricity usage from wind energy.