Tuesday, Aug 2 2011 2:05PM
A report by the Center for Rural Affairs states expansion of the nation's electric grid could lead to more rural economic jobs and ways to use wind for renewable energy.
The Center for Rural Affairs released a report recently stating that expanding the nation's electric transmission grid would not only provide cleaner, renewable energy for U.S. residents, but also would create jobs for rural Americans.
The report says expansion of electric grids nationwide could lead to increased use of wind turbines for energy and a gradual decline on fossil fuel dependence.
The prime areas for this technology, according to the report, is in rural communities, as substantial amounts of untapped wind power is found in many of these towns.
"Opening the door to more wind power will bring opportunity to rural communities across the nation," the report states. "A comprehensive effort to upgrade existing transmission lines while strategically placing others is a critical step forward to capture this opportunity."
GE and Wind Capital recently announced that more than 200 wind turbines will be built in Oklahoma and Kansas during the next few years. Ciaran O'Brien, Wind Capital Group's chief executive officer, stated the construction of the turbines should be a boost to the economies of rural communities in each state. Projects in other states could soon follow.