Missouri Town 100% Powered by Wind

The town of Rock Port, Missouri has become the first in America to derive 100% of its electricity from wind power. With the use of 75 turbines, the 1,300 residents of this small town are able to fulfill all of their electricity needs. Though Missouri has some of the best wind potential in the country, I still have to wonder why other communities are not following Rock Port's lead.

Everyone in the town seems to be thrilled with what they have accomplished. And why shouldn't they be? Their carbon footprint has been drastically reduced, they are contributing to cleaner, fresher air, and they have distanced themselves from increasingly volatile oil prices. Officials say it is likely that residents will not experience a rate increase for the next 20 years. The individuals who own the land the turbines are on are making at least as much money as they would be making from crops, and they do not need to hire any labor. The wind farms have even become a tourist attraction, drawing people to the small but forward-thinking town.

So it seems like everyone is winning. Again, I have to ask why more towns are not investigating this win-win situation. Hopefully in the future this type of town will be the norm, and hardly newsworthy.