Things To Know:  Like hydropower, wind power has been used for hundreds of years.  Research suggests that the Persians were the first to employ this technology.  Later on the Dutch perfected the skill of harnessing wind power to pump water.  This allowed them to build a thriving powerhouse of a nation in a setting that presented severe challenges, as parts of it are actually below sea level.  Currently, wind power is a very cost effective means of producing power, with and even without subsidies.  It is the fastest growing source of new power, with a potential for Gigawatts of new wind power possible. 

Wind Power:  The most cost effective wind turbines are usually the most massive.   Eventually, 5 MW or larger turbine units will dot the horizon.  No need to worry, such horizons will mostly be on uninhabited farmland or in the ocean.  Massive "wind farms" are now being erected in standing water, sometimes miles from the coast.  If you're a farmer who wouldn't mind a more financially secure future where banks ask you for a loan, one or two of these devices may be worth your consideration.  (If you raise farm animals, also check out the Biomass page on our web site!)  Please see the following sites for more information: http://www.awea.org/faq/, http://www.nrel.gov/wind/about_lowspeed.html, http://eereweb.ee.doe.gov/windandhydro/.  An excellent technical diagram can be seen at: http://www.nrel.gov/wind/animation.html.

Location:  Of course, large scale wind farms are still the most profitable.  While low speed turbines are being developed, rich payoffs are found harnessing high wind speeds with massive turbines clustered on large scale "farms."  It is easy to see that both Alaska, Hawaii and parts of the Rocky Mountain states and the Dakotas have a great future in wind, should this technology be fully employed:  http://windeis.anl.gov/guide/maps/map2.html.

Manufacturers:  The two titans of the industry are Vestas and GE.  The following web sites are a compilation of the players in the wind industry:  http://www.gepower.com/businesses/ge_wind_energy/en/index.htm, http://www.vestas.com/uk/Products/products2004/prodOverview_UK.htm, http://www.nordex-online.com/_e/produkte_und_service/index.html, http://www.enercon.de/en/_home.htm