Comet’s Turbine Tale

“Whoosh”

Oops! Almost got you there. I didn’t mean to dive so close to an Earth Ranger’s head. I’m Comet, and I was flying on the wind for that dive!

You humans use the wind in some cool ways, like getting energy from wind turbines. These are the giant fans, as tall as a 20-story building, that you see in windy areas like on hills, along shores, or across a prairie field. When wind turbine blades spin, they generate electricity that can power entire cities.

The best part? These turbines don’t need fuel to operate! Wind energy is renewable, and doesn’t create any pollution. As long as there is wind, you’ll always have electricity to go around. 

One small problem…

Some people are against wind energy because they think turbines hurt birds like me.

And it’s true – sadly, birds do sometimes fly right into wind turbines. But the fact is, climate change is the absolute biggest threat to birds worldwide, and wind energy helps to fight climate change!

Where does that leave us? Needing more responsibly placed turbines!

Putting wind turbines where birds migrate can cause problems. We can fix this by placing the turbines in spots with strong winds that won’t harm birds or their habitats. Spread the word about keeping birds safe and ask turbine developers to speak with animal experts to find the best spots for the blades. We can always find solutions… especially when we work together!

I’m blown away by the awesomeness of the power of wind! Are you a big fan of wind energy and wind turbines? Did you know you can totally make your own? Earth Rangers has a mission that teaches you all about how to put your own wind turbine together, using just a few common items. What are you waiting for?

There’s a lot more to learn about renewable energy. You can expand your knowledge by checking out the We’ve Got the Power Mission in the Earth Rangers App.