“Zero-emissions, renewable power technology is now affordable and feasible on a large scale thanks to wind energy” (Wind Power). Wind power, a domestic and renewable resource, offers a potential for energy independence. When combined with alternative transportation fuels, wind energy helps mitigate the U.S. dependency on foreign oil. As with other technological changes over human history, the development of wind farms across the country would create a demand for both a physical labor force for construction as well as engineers to constantly improve design and efficiency of the turbines. As a result, there would be new job markets created for the manufacture and maintenance of wind-turbines. Wind-power is a clean source of energy, and investing in it could reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. The United States contributes about 22% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions (Enger 187). Carbon Dioxide emissions are an environmentally damaging byproduct of burning fossil fuels, especially at the recent rates. By utilizing wind turbines as a clean alternative energy resource, our nation's excessive emission of greenhouse gasses can be drastically reduced. “Wind farms will generate an estimated 25 billion kWh in 2006 (about 0.6% of U.S. electricity generation), enough to serve more than 2.3 million household. Some 15 million tons of carbon dioxide, the leading global warming pollutant, would be emitted if that amount of electricity were instead generated from conventional power plants” (Wind Power). One institution to try to encourage a transition to wind energy has been universities. Although a multitude of colleges have invested in wind energy to power some of their buildings, because of such a high initial investment cost, they often cannot afford to expand their efforts. In fact many schools are actually forced to end their investments related to wind and other alternative energy sources. However, if colleges and universities can continue to support wind energy and other sustainable energy resources, others will hopefully follow suit. “Wind projects also contribute significantly to the local tax base, boosting funding for schools and other services” (Wind Power).