Farming the Wind

The first heyday of wind power in the United States lasted from 1870 to 1930, when thousands of farmers used the wind to pump water and generate power. The second heyday is just beginning. Wind power is the fastest-growing energy source in the world, with annual average growth of 32 percent between 1998 and 2002. In the United States alone, nearly two billion dollars' worth of wind turbines are projected to come on line in 2003—enough to power 800,000 homes.