Sharing the Wind

摘要

For centuries, wind has been a valuable source of energy for humankind. Long before the advent of modern electric power, windmills were pumping water, grinding grain, and sawing timber. The expeditions of Columbus and Magellan and all the great explorers were fueled by wind, as were the freight-bearing clipper ships that tied together global markets through the end of the nineteenth century. But never before the advent of modern turbines has wind been viewed as an income-producing asset, nor as a commodity.rnLandowners today are increasingly selling or leasing to others the right to utilize the wind flowing across their land to generate electric power. Modern wind energy leases routinely provide for thousands of dollars in annual rent payments to properly owners. For the first time in history, the right to capture wind in some areas of the country has become marketable and highly lucrative.