Farming for Power: A Growing Industry
For centuries, farming has kept the world from going hungry and farmers were a revered bunch, thanked for their hard work in preventing the world population from going without food. Today, new types of farms are sprouting up, this time harvesting the wind and energy from the sun to produce electricity and prevent the world population from being in the dark.
Instead of tractors and combines, today's farmers use wind turbines and solar panels to generate electricity. Their storage sheds do not hold wheat and hay, rather they use batteries to hold the power and operate nearly all things requiring electricity. The bulk of the power generated is connected to a power grid and used where electricity is needed. Their fields have also taken on a new dimension.
Traditional farming typically relied on flat fields on which their equipment could operate. Today, areas that may not provide for fertile growth can hold a wind turbine or solar panel and produce renewable power. These fields are also not limited to the ground as some wind farms are sprouting up on lakes or oceans, many miles from shore. It's a new breed of farmer that is growing a technologically developed crop that can also help the environment.
Wind farms utilize several windmills equipped with turbines that generate electricity, made up of several hundred windmills. The largest offshore wind farm, located off the shore of the United Kingdom has the capacity to generate up to 1,000 megawatts of power. Several other wind farms are up and running, providing between 300 and 710 megawatts. These not only take a load off the coal and gas fired plants, but also help protect the environment and create thousands of new green collar jobs.
Solar arrays are sprouting up as solar farms, often tied into the power grid, are providing electricity generated by vast arrays of photovoltaic cells. They can be located on rooftops or on the ground with one of the largest arrays located on 640 acres of land, capable of generating 1,100 gigawatts of power located in California. In addition to power, construction at the site provided green jobs for over 400 people and will put over 100 people to work permanently.
Some of the larger arrays use moving panels that can follow the sun on its trek across the sky, allowing them to be focused on the light throughout the day. These farms are sustainable since they count on nature to provide their power and are considered green since they produce no polluting wastes that could be exhausted into the air.
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