Windmills give poor U.S. rural areas hope and cash

[jpak]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2006-08-31T171125Z_01_N31251946_RTRIDST_0_ECONOMY-WINDMILLS-BUSINESS-FEATURE-PICTURE.XML

REDHOUSE, Md., Aug 31 (Reuters) - John Roth stood on his 88-acre farm, looking up at the land he owns on the mountain ridge. He hopes that someday he will see a new crop that needs no fertilizer and renews itself -- windmills that generate electricity and, most importantly, a steady flow of income.

Roth is cashing in as many wind power projects pop up around the country, as skyrocketing oil and gas prices make wind power more competitive with traditional energy sources. This trend is sailing on a gust of government tax credits and policies that encourage companies to invest in the big turbines that produce the much needed electricity.

"I used to grow a lot of corn to fill my silos. I'm getting old enough, 67, and thought I should maybe think about not running the plow in the ground," the leather-skinned farmer said as he peered up at the 23 acres of land that lie above his farm on Maryland's highest point, known as Roth's Ridge.

Wind power, a renewable source of energy, offers income to land owners willing to lease their property to hold giant turbines. This growing industry offers the promise of an alternative long-term energy supply at stable prices, increased taxed revenue for many of the nation's rural communities and jobs to support manufacturing and growing technology.

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[Triana]

1. Well you can bet Republicans will be against it then (n/t)

[robinlynne]

2. I just saw a Chevron ad on public television sying that wind turbines

don't really work. "You would need 20,000 of them to power Paris France." made me think, ha they're getting nervous. Good!

[Triana]

3. ask anyone from Denmark...

...they work like a charm over there. They do here too. When/where they're allowed...

[eridani]

4. Northern Europe is one of the best places in the world for wind power

Flat terrain, bur when you get the wind comming hard out of the northwest, it's like biking up a 6% grade to pedal against it.