| the most popular ways of alternative energy are | | | | was able to successfully develop a multi-blade |
| wind turbines. As each year passes by windmills | | | | windmill that created electricity. |
| are constantly growing within their popularity, | | | | From this point on the design was changed more |
| mainly with the modern day green movement. | | | | and more to be efficient in producing the highest |
| Windmills are great in that they receive energy | | | | output of electricity. From the 1970s to 1990s |
| through a source that will never run out. This is | | | | countries would start developing wind farms in a |
| why wind turbines are becoming more and more | | | | way for alternative energy over fossil fuel, and |
| popular. When were wind turbines first introduced | | | | even more during the Arab oil crisis in 1973. It |
| into the world? Are they are a new invention? | | | | was at this point when the United States |
| In reality windmills were first made between | | | | government would begin to get involved and |
| 500-900 A.D. by the Persians and were used as a | | | | started to finance some of the wind energy |
| water pumping system. The original windmill model | | | | programs as an alternative energy source. From |
| was the vertical axis. This vertical axis was | | | | this point on the designs of wind turbines have |
| developed with vertical sails made of reeds | | | | been perfected into producing the maximum |
| grouped together to the central vertical shaft by | | | | kilowatts for the least amount of cost. |
| horizontal struts. Western Europe had their first | | | | Energy production for wind turbines is starting to |
| appearance of the horizontal axis in 1270 A.D. The | | | | be cheaper than other ways. Wind energy is even |
| design was changed because they saw the | | | | said to be under pricing the capital costs of close |
| structural efficiency of drag-type for the | | | | to every other power plant type in other |
| horizontal axis wind turbines was greater than | | | | countries! This is good for home owners since |
| that of the vertical axis. The wind turbine was | | | | they can now build their own wind turbine for a |
| then changed to be able to be used in many | | | | low price. This will give people the chance to |
| ways such as pumping water, irrigation, grain | | | | lessen their electricity costs and stop depending |
| grinding, and saw milling of timber. In 1888, the US | | | | on the electric company. |