A Novel Way to Reduce Home Energy Bills is an article in the Wall Street Journal about the comeback of windmills. This won't fly in my urban neighborhood of 50X120 lots, but it is an alternative for some parts of the population.
While wind energy is commonly associated with massive turbines churning in desolate, windy areas, a new generation of smaller systems made for areas with moderate wind is hitting the market. The latest small turbines, which resemble a ship propeller on a pole, have three blades, are up to 24 feet in diameter and are usually perched on stand-alone towers between 35 and 140 feet high. The systems have the potential to save consumers between 30% and 90% on their electric bills, manufacturers say, and promise to make no more noise than an air conditioner. But tapping so-called small wind using a high-tech windmill can be costly, and homeowners may find themselves battling zoning officials and annoyed neighbors who find the towering devices unsightly.
Interest in small wind has jumped recently: the American Wind Energy Association, an industry trade group in Washington, estimates that U.S. sales of small-wind systems totaled $17 million in 2005, up 62% from 2004. At the same time, systems designed for residential use are being supported by a growing host of state incentives to offset the cost.
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