Calley, 42, is an alt-energy nut. At age 12, he built a primitive windmill that produced electricity for his bedroom–for a single bulb and the cassette player on which he listened to Pink Floyd.
A small business, Southwest Windpower, has created a small (45 ft) wind turbine for generating electricity for a half-acre home. The idea that windmills, usually 100 feet tall, can be produced and sold like this is great news for the alternative energy lovers.
The company’s newest turbine features blades shaped like samurai swords and can generate electricity even with winds as calm as 5 miles per hour.
Should you buy one for $6,000? Southwest Windpower estimates it will save the average customer $500 a year, so it will pay for itself after 12 years. That’s a long time to wait to recoup the cost. There’s something else to consider: By 2018, the one turbine may not be sufficient for increasing power needs. I would imagine those who encourage alternative energy do so not because of the cost, but because it can help cure the country’s addiction to oil.
Published or updated April 11, 2006. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to the RSS feed or receive daily emails. Follow @flexo on Twitter and visit our Facebook page for more updates.
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Replace “Pink Floyd” with “Oak Ridge Boys” and you would have never noticed that article. LOL
CNN knows how to get my attention. It’s the brain implants they gave me.