Can I use wind energy to power my home? This question is being asked across the country as more people look for affordable and reliable sourc-es of electricity. Small wind electric systems can make a significant contribution to our nation’s energy needs. Although wind turbines large enough to provide a significant portion of the electricity needed by the average U.S. home gen-erally require one acre of property or more, approximately 21 million U.S. homes are built on one-acre and larger sites, and 24% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas. A small wind electric system will work for you if: • There is enough wind where you live • Tall towers are allowed in your neighborhood or rural area • You have enough space • You can determine how much electricity you need or want to produce • It works for you economically. The purpose of this guide is to pro-vide you with the basic information about small wind electric systems to help you decide if wind energy will work for you.
