Energy Alternatives for the 21st Century Energy alternatives provide opportunities for people to reduce their dependency on fossil fuels and their emissions of greenhouse gases. The regular use of such energy alternatives has been slow to catch on,however,because technology has not advanced to levels appropriate for mass consumption. But small-scale usage of these alternatives is alive and well in the United States and abroad. Wind Wind forces can be harnessed and used to generate electricity. Wind turbines,like modern-day windmills,catch the wind's energy with their blades: as the wind blows,it creates a pocket of low-pressure air at the bottom of the blades,which,in effect,pulls the turbine toward it,causing the turbine to rotate. As the turbine rotates,its rotor rotates,which turns a shaft that spins a generator,which creates electricity. Turbines can be connected to utility power grids or can be used as stand-alone units,such as for water pumping or to operate communications ... Read more »