Sorry, I know this has NOTHING to do with sailing but I figured you guys might have some knowledge, given that some of you are engineers and spread all over the world, and live for MORE wind!

My 4th grade daughter is doing a school science fair project on Alternative Energy; Wind Power. We have been looking on the internet for info. We have found massive wind farms in California and Holland. What we have not found is why only there? I know it has alot to do with average wind strength and local laws but it seems they could be improved, silenced, made more efficient and used everywhere there is even a little bit of wind, so why do we not see more of them? The wind is free, I'm sure the big oil companys are not happy about that.

I live in Florida, the stuff on the internet says we only average 5-8 knts wind so there aren't any wind farms here, or anywhere in the entire South East US, seems they need more like 15-20 to be efficient? But all winter it blows pretty good out of the NW, and along the shore all summer there is a seabreeze of about 10kts every afternoon, is that not enough? Also, they say the environmentalists don't like wind farms because the blades kill birds??! Does that really happen? I find it hard to believe a bird could be that stupid, I mean the blades make noise and are not moving as fast as say, an airplane propeller. How come the birds in Holland don't hit them? Smarter birds?

Also, could I build a small demo unit out of an old auto alternator, belt driven off a bike wheel/turbine fan setup? Anyone know of any plans for such a thing or have a better idea for a school demo project? I was thinking about using one of the small wind generators they sell for boats at the dock...but they cost $500+, way too much for my kid's school project!

If any of you are into wind driven generators or have good web site ideas for more information, I sure would appreciate your help.

PS, my son in 7th grade is doing his on Solar Power....so if you have any info on that, please post. We already have a solar powered car (toy) kit for a demo.

Thanks in advance.

Tim Bohan, Sebring, Florida...the Sunshine State. (and Hurricanes...but not enough wind?? )