Wind energy comes of age by paul gipe chronicles wind energys progress from its rebirth during the oil crises of the 1970s through a troubling adolescence in californias mountain passes in the 1980s to its maturation on the plains of northern europe in the 1990s gipe argues that wind energy is no longer an alternative source of energy he cites improvements in the performance reliability and cost effectiveness of modern wind turbines to support his contention that wind energy has come . Paul gipe argues in a readable and engaging style that wind is no longer an alternative source of energy he cites improvements in the performance reliability and cost effectiveness of modern wind turbines to support his contention that wind energy has come of age as a commercial technology wind energy comes of age is extensively illustrated with more than 170 original line drawings photographs and charts an annotated bibliography tables of technical data maps of wind resources and . Wind energy comes of age by paul gipe chronicles wind energys progress from its rebirth during the oil crises of the 1970s through a troubling adolescence in californias mountain passes in the 1980s to its maturation on the plains of northern europe in the 1990s gipe argues that wind energy is no longer an alternative source of energy he cites improvements in the performance reliability and cost effectiveness of modern wind turbines to support his contention that wind energy has come . Written by paul gipe one of americas leading wind energy experts wind energy comes of age is a comprehensive guide to the technology economics and politics of wind energy gipe has brought together information available nowhere else about american and european experience with wind energy this landmark work is an indispensable reference source for engineers researchers environmentalists planners policy specialists and community leaders who deal with this fast growing field