Wind turbines, which contributed more than 9% of U.S. electricity in 2021, last roughly 20 to 25 years before they must be replaced, according to the Energy Information Administration.
But some social media users are claiming that wind turbine generators – the part that produces electricity when the turbine blades are spinning – must be replaced much more frequently.
"The wind farm in Mt. Pulaski has been running for 3 1/2 years," reads a July 17 Facebook post. "They have been replacing the generators in all the wind towers. There are 100 of them in this wind farm. So evidently the life span on the generators on these things is about 3 to 4 years."
The post then disparages wind power, asserting that a "huge" amount of diesel fuel required for repairs and maintenance.
The post was shared 18,000 times in three weeks, but it is inaccurate and misleading.
Like any technology, wind turbine generators are subject to manufacturing defects or other problems. However, they typically last much longer than three or four years, according to research and industry representatives.
Further, even when the fossil fuels required to manufacture, install, maintain and dispose of wind turbines are considered, wind power releases far less greenhouse gases per kilowatt-hour than burning fossil fuels for electricity.
Finally, while the post doesn't name a specific wind farm, the photo accompanying the post shows turbines...
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