Fun Facts

The USA, in 2008, became the largest producer of wind power in the world.
Good wind turbine location is very important. An increase in wind speed of 25% could double the power produced from your turbine.
The U. S. Energy Administration announced in early October 2008 renewable energy production was up 32% over the prior year.
Revenue in the solar power industry has grown 30% a year from 2000 to 2007. In 2000 revenues was $3.41 billion. In 2007 revenue hit $21.2 billion.
Total solar installations as of the end of 2007 are as follows; Germany 3.78 GW, Japan 1.9 GW, USA 903 MW, Spain 670.4 MW, Italy 107.5 MW, and South Korea 84.54 MW. Total solar installations account for 0.018% of the worlds 2005 energy supply.
Solar homes are selling at a much quicker pace than homes without solar. In a recent survey of 100,000 people, 90% stated that solar should be an option on all new homes. See http://www.builderonline.com/green-building/solar-powered-sales.aspx for more information.
Southeastern Michigan has an average of over 4.2 hours of clear sun per day as a yearly average!
Michigan's climate will allow solar panels to create more voltage during peak daylight periods than the Southwestern states.
Germany has much less sunshine per year then southeastern Michigan. http://howto.altenergystore.com/Reference-Materials/Solar-Insolation-Map-World/a43/
Germany is 50% ahead of their goal of achieveing 20% renewable energy by 2020!
On a clear day the energy that hits 1 square meter of earth equals 1000 watts of energy!
The energy that hits the earth from 1 hour of sunshine could power the planet for a year!
Silicon cells, the major component of solar panels, manufactured from 1 ton of sand can produce as much electricity as burning 500,000 tons of coal!
The power company has to generate 3.3 kwh of energy to deliver 1 kwh of energy to the average household!
If every U.S. household replaced just one standard 60 watt bulb with an LED bulb we could save 24,184.4 mega (million) watts per day. Based on 103 million households with an average use of 4 hrs per day per house.
One of the largest power plants in the U.S. could be eliminated as a result of each household replacing just 1 standard 60 watt bulb with an LED bulb.
Michigan's Lake Michigan coast and the 'thumb' areas of Saginaw Bay are some of the best locations in the USA for Wind turbines. Check out the wind maps at different elevation at the bottom of this link. http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-25676_25774-101765--,00.html
The Vestas V90 wind turbine has 148' blades on a 262' tower totaling 410' tall, and generates 1.8 mega (million) watts.
Denmark will produce over 30% of their energy this year from wind turbines.
Americans account for 5% of the world's population but consume 25% of the resources.
T. Boone Pickens, famed Texas oil billionaire, announced in June of 2007 that he was creating the world's largest wind farm in the panhandle of Texas. Once completed it will have 2000 wind turbines generating 4000 mega (million) watts of electricity.
T. Boone Pickens has launched a national campaign to help our country develop a national energy plan. Please click on the following link and check it out. http://www.pickensplan.com
The USA gives $700,000,000,000.00 every year to foreign countries for oil. Becoming energy independant will help balance our foreign trade, strenghten our dollar and keep the money out of foreign countries that want to use it to hurt us.
In 1972 we imported 24% of our oil requirements. In 2008 it is expected to hit 70% and is still climbing.
It is currently against the law for US companies to drill on the continental shelf, in international waters, off the coast. Meanwhile China and Mexico, not having these restrictions, are pumping away. RECENT DEVELOPMENT - Congress will allow the moratorium against offshore drilling to expire after three decades.
Click the following link and see how solar works in Michigan. http://www.michigan.gov/documents/CIS_EO_Solar_Tour_of_Michigan_94202_7.pdf

Michigan Solar & Wind Power Solutions

Fun Facts