Imagine this; you've just climbed 200 feet up a vertical steel ladder inside what looks like a tunnel, almost like it was part of the Starship Enterprise. After finding yourself in a room as big as a house, you climb up through a roof hatch and you are once more viewing the wide open panorama called West Texas. Only this time, it's a lot different from being on the ground, up here at 200 feet the wind that was barely noticeable at ground level is really moving. That's exactly what the wind tower designers counted on, the fact that part of West Texas is located in the wind corridor as shown in the map below. Now the centuries-old principle of using wind power has once again come alive as man turns to the heavens for inspiration, lo and behold, what has been ignored for centuries has brought new life and hope for an ailing planet.

Could the crews on ships such as the one pictured here, ever imagine that we would come full circle using technology beyond their ken?

It appears that mankind has had to climb down from his arrogant perch in order to learn from history that the God of creation and nature really does know what is best for His planet called Earth. Wow! What a novel idea! Remember, you're dealing with a former atheist here, someone who is aware of all the tricks of pseudo logic and tired old litanies that unbelievers still cling to with a kind of faith that is in itself a contradiction. Well, enough preaching, back to the subject of wind power.

In many cultures throughout history the power of the wind has been a primary source of energy. This illustration is an example, almost a work of art, of a windmill in Spain. Contrast this simplicity with the complexity of the jet which creates its own wind in order to stay aloft. Here we see the two ends of the technology spectrum. It remains to be seen whether or not the jet plane will endure as long as the windmill.

The traditional windmill was instrumental in the survival of early settlers in the West, pumping up from the ground their vital water supplies. This was long before electric power lines spanned the continent.

Now we take a look at the present-day scene where we find a growing respect for the power of wind. In Texas there are small businesses that are thriving on a renewed demand for traditional windmills for individual use. Also there are large scale projects involving know-how, jobs, and millions of dollars in an area of the U.S. that has largely been ignored by the rest of the country. Since the 1980's, this West Texas oil patch has pretty much dried up economically in comparison to former times.

In recent years the country appeared to be basking in a kind of euphoria that glossed over the fact that there is no such condition as an unlimited supply of fossil-based fuels. Other countries already have well-established wind-generated power plants operating at a significant level, also making a worthy contribution to decreasing world-wide pollution with all its evil attendants. To use a figure of speech, the U.S. has been "caught with its britches down." With billions of dollars at stake, much of this situation is the result of political in-fighting along with a socio-economic tangle of half-truths and power plays hidden in general from the rude gaze of the consumer public.

Along comes the "knight in shining armor," T. Boone Pickens. The entry of this tough eighty-year-old (former?) oilman has descended like a tornado upon the energy scene, and is being hailed worldwide as the leader whose influence has been needed to get our ostrich heads out of the sands of complacency and lame excuses. Here's one of his latest interviews, you judge the worth of his proposal. And by the way, Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club has given praise for the plan, good news for us bird watchers.

Some chronic whiners and naysayers may object to the possibility of T. Boone profiting from his natural gas proposal. Tsk! Tsk! Since when is it a sin to run a profitable business, one that provides good jobs, and is also beneficial for the air we breathe? Let's not fall into the envy/jealousy trap, but stay on focus regarding the energy crisis that too many of us have ignored for too many years.

T. Boone appeared to have hit a nerve with the American people, since beginning his campaign to join up last week on July 7, 2008 there have been over 31,000 members willing to help in promoting his plan. Entry rate on average is three every minute. His plan is not perfect but at least now we can make our lone voice to be heard in concert with 1000's of others who share our pain at the pump.

If you live outside the U.S.A. feel free to add your voice to ours,after all, soaring energy prices are affecting everyone world-wide. To take part in this rapidly-growing movement where your voice can be heard and you can make a difference, check out the Pickens Plan here.

Let's fast forward from the old traditional windwill featured in western cowboy movies to the current high-efficiency power mills that are providing a practical solution.

Take a look at the size and design sophistication of the windmills currently in use in West Texas on the mostly level high plains, altitude 2,000 to 2,500 feet. These machines are quite large as you can see from the comparative size of the workers and vehicles. The nacelle on which the workers are standing can be from 200 to 300 feet above the ground, and the blades can be 100 feet long. The whole machine can weigh as much as 60 tons.