Editor’s note: Today’s letters to the editor are from Southwest Junior High students learning about persuasive writing.

To the editor:

I am writing this letter because of my concern that wind energy is not being properly utilized. Wind energy is practical and efficient.

The Midwest is an optimal place for wind turbines. They create little or no pollution and can still generate up to 3 megawatts per turbine. Wind turbines also are in need of repair less often than coal fired power plants, They are only broken down 3 percent of the time.

You may say that the economy can’t support wind energy and needs coal to keep it going. But in the long term, wind energy will be cheaper than coal fired power plants because coal isn’t getting more plentiful. There will always be wind and therefore prices shouldn’t skyrocket because of the loss of coal.

According to FPLenergy.com, 26 countries already use wind turbines so we know that it is tried and true. Also, wind is the fastest growing way to produce energy. There is a global installed capacity of 74,600 megawatts of wind energy and wind energy is hardly used at all. All in all it should be obvious that wind energy is a great alternative energy source.

A.J. Frook

Southwest Junior High School