Is there anything on earth more plentiful than the wind?  It is safe, it is everywhere, and there are no gas emissions to worry about.  Windmills have been around since 500-900 A.D. where they were used in Persia for grain-grinding and water pumping.  Windmills provide an excellent source of alternative power and many utility companies will buy the extra electricity that you don’t use.  There are currently wind farms in several parts of the country.  Windmills can be purchased in a variety of sizes.
 
A small windmill on a farm can make enough electricity to power a few farm machines. The use of windmills allows individuals to lower their power bills as well as become independent of their electric grid.  Power companies have built “wind farms” in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa to produce power for large areas.  In Iowa they have built 600 wind turbines that generate enough power for 140,000 homes. Executive Director Randall Swisher of AWEA said earlier this year “that the wind can generate 20% of U.S. Electricity by 2030.”  The use of wind power is a very serious business and could prove to be a strategic investment for our nation.

If you are looking for a small windmill to try-out there is a 13-pound model that can produce electricity for a small shop.  There are models that produce 8,000 to 12,000 watts that provide electricity for an entire house.  It is best to place the windmill on a flat, open area where the wind blows around 14 miles an hour.  When you make the decision to install a large windmill keep your house on the utility company’s power grid. Check with your power company about compensation for excess electricity produced by your windmill. You may need to install a second electric meter to calculate the excess.