300' long turbine blades. Wowee!

Would vertical axis windmills be less disruptive to the airflow? What are the major disadvantages to vertical axis windmills? I have heard they provide less power, why? Why is all the research being done on large scale power generation? Why not smaller home or localized generation to reduce distribution expenses?

Thats a VERY good question , I have always had the thought of think small - what we can do or put on our homes that would generate - say 20% of my needs - why do we always have to think extreemly large - develop a small wind turbine I can mount on my garage to say power my electric water heater

There's been a lot of research on small wind and it's highly inefficient with little to no pay back. If you want to do it to feel good, I'm won't object (unless you're my neighbor and I have to constantly listen to your whining (the turbines of course)). Wind velocity increases the higher you go as it get's away from the friction with the ground, houses, and trees etc. The larger towers benefit from many factors and the only debate is how to get the power back to the population centers.

Efficiency of small (less than 40kw, as defined by the Dept of Energy for the purposes of their rules about wind power) varies greatly. And the smaller you go, it gets more expensive per kw produced. But alellefson raises a good point about vertical axis generators. They are generally more efficient for the smaller systems. They also have the advantage of being quieter (nearly silent at 30'), and give a solid looking picture for the birds to see so they don't fly into it. Vertical axis designs are better for areas where winds switch directions often, or where there is turbulence from trees and buildings. They actually can be place right at the top of a building, taking advantage of the increased wind speeds of the wind coming up and around the building. It's true that payback on systems currently on the market is slow, even with the tax credits. Especially if you live in a large city, where winds are generally lower due to the large numbers of trees and buildings. But for those of us out in the country, it can be a great option. But what we need is for a company to come out with a vertical turbine (because keeping the generator on the ground greatly reduces the maintenance costs) that's more reasonably priced and that is more concerned with performance than fancy design.

Coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power are the best sources of energy for man and will be for many years to come. Wind mills are an economic disaster only made possible by government interferrence in the economy as an expression of the irrationalism of Environmentalism. If one values human life support the freedom of men to think and act free of the interferrence of government in pursuing the best sources of energy for man's purpose, happiness on earth.

Mr. Dawson has never seen a wind farm turbine. While the towers are 300 feet tall, the blades are about 1/3 that tall. The public can view one such blade in front of the Eco-Experience building on the State Fairgrounds. Perhaps they'll view it as part of the time they spend this weekend at the Living Green Expo at the Grandstand. Mr. Dawson: check your facts.

Large scale wind power such as in SW MN and NW Iowa produce power more cheaply than everything but nuclear - but that does not include the cost of disposal of the radioactive waste. It also provides area jobs (blade factory in Pipestone) and is environmentally friendly. Energy is so critical to our country the government has to get involved, just like when we provided electricity and phone service in rural areas. Sometimes we have to be forced to do the right thing. rwhalemd, I bet you don't wear your seatbelt do you?

Verifying the best arrangement is a great idea. It seems that moving the height of tower would stagger the resistence from another wind generator. The optimum would be using the down or side draft to further the generation of the next wind generator. It will be good know the outcome.

Xcels SEC K-10 numbers show 12% DROP IN PEAK DEMAND plus conservation is working. There is a 3 year decline in overall usage! But CAPX2020 now approved – unless we appeal - was just agreed to with almost no wind requirements. Another bigger project coming to MN is Green Power (wash) Express. Many believe future energy made LOCALLY shared locally on much smaller, less expensive individual SMART GRIDS would be far more beneficial for all America. Big 1950s “dumb transmission" utility proposals are more about mass coal use and profiteering than about wind. But smart folks seeing alternatives are looking at www.c-bed.org OR http://www.newrules.org/energy/publications/meeting-minnesotas-renewable-energy-standard-using-existing-transmission-system Other good reviews: 1)Ian Bowles is the secretary of energy and environmental affairs for Massachusetts. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/07/opinion/07bowles.html 2) Americas Future Wind Web - CS Monitor. 2)http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/02/18/americas-future-wind-web Smaller Smart Grids using wind and solar and other new tech soon to come on line across the county could help reduce infrastructure terrorism threat and protect our country while reducing CO2 emmisions. We thus having OWNERSHIP; Our kids having a stake in our energy future or preverbial GREEN Pie - not exactly what "big energy" want us to know as rates skyrocket! Join http://cetf.us/