Harnessing the Forces of Nature WIND « 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Wind is the dance when cold air meets warm. And few places have steadier dancing conditions than the San Gorgonio Pass near Palm Springs, Calif., the site of one of the world's first large-scale wind farms.  Although construction began in 1981, new, far larger and more efficient turbines constantly replace older models. Wind-generated power now costs about 5 cents per kilowatt hour (kwh)--one-eighth the 1980 price--making it competitive with gas and coal. So now rows upon rows of turbines towering 200 feet and higher are set to become a fixture on the American landscape--especially in "the Saudi Arabia of wind," a breeze-endowed region stretching from North Dakota to Texas and from Wyoming to Minnesota.  But where some worry about ruined views, others see tourism potential. Last year, 25,000 sightseers lined up and paid to tour the Palm Springs installation.

Next Photo	By Janet Ginsburg with Adam Aston Photo Editing by Paula Gillen