Wind Power Goes Small Scale

"An Urbana, Illinois, couple spent $13,000 and installed a 56-foot wind turbine in their yard to draw electrical power from the wind, which can reach 40 miles per hour. This November, their electricity bill was $10, compared to $90 in November, 2006."

Homeowners can receive government grants for some homegrown energy generating equipment. "Residential turbines, which account for half those sales, are typically 33 to 100 feet tall, with outputs of two to 10 kilowatts. They cost between $12,000 and $55,000, but in recent years, 19 states, including California, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Ohio, have begun offering incentives and rebates that can cut purchase prices by up to 50 percent. And last week, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill that would help states provide grants and low-interest loans for residential turbines, as well as solar panels and geothermal heat pumps."

"Wind turbines cause problems for birds. For example, at the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area in California, it is estimated that between 1,700 to 4,700 birds are killed each year by the turbines. In addition, turbines may have a negative effect on property values and some complain that turbines ruin scenic views."