Final answer:
Wind is a renewable and more environmentally friendly energy source with variable capacity factors due to its intermittent nature; coal is a non-renewable fossil fuel with consistent availability but higher carbon emissions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Wind is a different type of resource than coal because wind is a renewable resource with the capability of being sustainably harnessed, while coal is a non-renewable fossil fuel that, once extracted and burned, cannot be replaced on a human timescale. Wind energy's capacity factors are around 33%, indicating that it produces energy at 33% of what would be produced if it operated at full capacity at all times; this reflects the intermittent nature of wind as the wind is not always blowing and its speed can vary. In contrast, coal has a consistent availability until the resource depletes, and burning coal releases significantly higher levels of carbon emissions than wind power generation, which has life-cycle CO₂ emissions of only 2% of that emitted by traditional fossil fuel electricity generation.
Furthermore, wind power can be harnessed with fairly simple technology and has a reasonable efficiency rate of 40-50% for converting wind into energy. Despite the environmental concerns relating to its impact on landscapes and wildlife, such as birds and bats, wind energy's overall environmental impact tends to be lower than fossil fuels and is often likened to the impact of hydroelectric power. Therefore, while both wind and coal are sources of energy, they have vastly different characteristics regarding renewability, environmental impact, and how energy is extracted and used.