When did wind energy for electricity generation start?

Civilizations have utilized various forms of wind energy, including windmills and pumps, for thousands of years. However, modern wind turbines for electricity generation were invented in the 1850s by Daniel Halladay and John Burnham, leading to the establishment of the U.S. Wind Engine & Pump Company.

How is wind a renewable resource?

Wind energy is considered a renewable resource because it naturally replenishes itself. Unlike finite resources like coal or natural gas, wind energy is infinite and relies on the daily wind cycle provided by the environment.

Wind is primarily caused by the differential heating of the air above water compared to land. As air over land heats up faster than air over water, it expands and rises, creating a low-pressure area. Cooler air from above the water then moves in to fill this gap, resulting in the formation of wind.

Wind Energy in the United States

Learn how renewable wind energy works.

Written by Dominique Sabins

Edited by Aviva Tenenbaum

Last updated February 20, 2025

What is wind energy?

Wind energy is a renewable energy resource used to power homes, farms, businesses, and other infrastructure around the world. Moving air contains kinetic energy, which is harnessed by wind turbines to produce electricity. Wind energy is one of the cleanest forms of energy, as it produces no emissions and has a minimal impact on the environment.

Keep reading to understand how these machines create electricity from wind.

How wind turbines work

Wind turbines located either on land or off-shore utilize rotor blades to capture the wind’s movement. The wind turbine is connected to a generator activated by the moving blades, creating a steady source of electricity. The following diagram depicts how wind turbines generate electricity.

Graphic describing how wind turbines work

Wind energy in the U.S.

Wind energy is thriving in the United States due to its affordability and low environmental impact. Texas is the largest producer of wind energy in the nation, producing more than twice the amount of the second-ranking state (Iowa). As a result, Texans will find that many electricity plans in the state are powered, at least partially, by wind energy. The following table explores the top 10 states for wind energy production.

State	% of U.S. Total
Texas	26.9
Iowa	9.9
Oklahoma	8.0
Kansas	6.5
Illinois	6.0
Colorado	3.6
New Mexico	3.5
Minnesota	3.2
North Dakota	3.2
California	2.9

Top 10 U.S. states for wind energy generation.

Wind energy for your home

Wind power is one of the most significant sources of energy to power homes. In fact, large wind turbines can generate enough electricity in one day to power a single home for an entire year. And states like Texas that rely heavily on green energy use wind power to provide electricity for residents.

While large-scale wind turbines are used to power homes, it’s not as common as other forms of renewable energy that homeowners can harness themselves, such as solar panels. There are small wind electric systems that residents can use in high-wind areas that can help lower their electricity bills. While they’re cheaper than home solar systems, they aren’t nearly as common.

Advantages of wind energy

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, wind power is one of the fastest-growing renewable resources in the country, and hold several advantages in the energy landscape:

Low cost: Wind power is one of the lowest-cost energy sources compared to both renewable and non-renewable competitors.
A source of clean energy: Wind power has no emissions and does not pollute our waters, land, or atmosphere.
Positive for our economy and job market: As wind energy grows in production, it creates more jobs and investments to boost the U.S. economy. In 2022, approximately $20 billion worth of new wind projects were built.

Challenges facing wind power

Wind energy is not without its challenges. Its advantages are significant, but it’s worth mentioning some challenges this renewable power source faces:

Availability: Wind power depends on adequate amounts of wind to produce electricity. This means that some locations that don’t experience a lot of wind likely cannot meet the electricity demand on wind power alone.
Competition: Wind farms must compete with other low-cost sources of renewable energy, such as solar, that may be cheaper to operate in areas with low wind.
Environmental impact: As with any technology with a large footprint, some people have raised concerns about the impact of turbines on wildlife, as well as higher noise pollution and lower visual aesthetics in local communities.

Wind energy FAQ

Civilizations have used various forms of wind energy via windmills and pumps for thousands of years. However, modern-day wind turbines for electricity generation were invented in the 1850s by Daniel Halladay and John Burnham, who created the U.S. Wind Engine & Pump Company.
Wind energy naturally replenishes itself, making it a renewable resource. Unlike non-renewable resources such as coal or natural gas, wind energy is infinite and uses the environment’s daily wind cycle.
Wind is caused by the uneven heating of the air above water versus land. The air above ground heats up faster than that over water, which causes it to expand and rise so that cooler air from above the water can rush in, causing wind.