Hayes Wind Farm, Central Otago, New Zealand

It turns out that besides being World Gin Day, June 15th is also Global Wind Day.

Staring in 2007, Global Wind Day is s a worldwide event organized by The European Wind Energy Association – EWEA – and the Global Wind Energy Council – GWEC  that occurs annually on 15 June. It is a day for discovery and discussion around wind, its power, and the possibilities it holds as a sustainable energy resource for the global future.

More than 75 countries around the world have wind farms in operation generating energy from this clean and renewable source. In New Zealand, where the majority of power generation comes from renewable resources, wind farms have an installed capacity of 623 megawatts and generate over 4% of electricity for the country.
Comparatively in the USA, which has a much larger population and land mass, wind farms have a installed capacity of approximately 60,000 megawatts. You can download the 2012 GWEC Global Wind Report, which will give you a more comprehensive picture of the currant status of wind energy use in the world.

While there has been much controversy here in New Zealand, as well as the rest of the world, about the effectiveness of wind power generation versus the costs, both financially and aesthetically. I know personally I would much rather see a wind turbine on the horizon than a smoke stack billowing CO2 laden smoke, or risk contamination and exposure from a nuclear power plant leak.

Wind power generation is is certainly an avenue that needs to continue being explored as fossil fuels are becoming more expensive, more scarce, and are are a continued detriment to the global environment. So . . . go grab a pinwheel (or even better, make one), and celebrate Global Wind Day!!