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Denmark Over the past eight years, many countries sent representatives to climate change conferences in Rio Di Janeiro, Brazil and Kyoto, Japan. Most promised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide, also called CO2. The commitments are non-binding, and only a few countries appear to take them seriously. Denmark is one of them. Denmark reduced its CO2 emissions by investing in wind power generation. Today it's how Denmark generates about 10 percent of its energy. Denmark also plans to increase its wind power production to cover nearly half of the country's energy consumption in thirty years. There are wind-farms in California and across the Great Plains, but wind-power is still vastly under used in the US. Wind-power produces only one tenth of one percent of our energy needs. In Europe, there is an overall commitment to reduce carbon emissions. Countries are willing to use tax money for the development of wind power technology. They subsidize installation during a pre-commercial phase until wind power becomes economically competitive. Denmark has an advantage because it's surrounded by the North Sea. Land and sea breezes are constant. In fact, Denmark harvests most of its wind in large offshore wind farms. Wind turbines are clustered to take advantage of the breezes and to keep the 150-meter towers away from crowded shores. A city of several thousand people only needs 10 to 15 turbines for power. While the Netherlands is known for its windmills, Denmark may soon be known for its wind-powered reduction of carbon emissions. Please be sure to visit our website at weathernotebook.org. The Weather Notebook is funded by the National Science Foundation, and under written by Subaru: The Beauty of all-wheel drive. |