Wind energy is a renewable resource, which means that future supply will not be affected by current use. The rising concerns about global warming, pollution, and depletion of natural resources makes wind a viable and logical source of energy for the near and distant future. There are many advantages to wind energy; it is a sustainable energy source that is non-polluting. With a 30 percent annual increase, wind is the world’s fastest-growing bulk power electricity source.
Montana has a bright future in wind energy. The American Wind Energy Association ranked Montana’s wind-energy potential in the top five in the nation. Currently, the state has several utility-scale wind farms in operation.

History of Wind Energy
Wind energy has been used by civilizations throughout time. As early as 5000 B.C., wind energy propelled boats up and down rivers. Simple windmills pumped water in China in 200 B.C. Wind energy technology and its applications continued to grow and diversify throughout the ages. By the late 19th century, settlers of the New World were using windmills to pump water, and eventually, to generate electricity.
Small windmills were used until the late 1920s to bring electricity to rural Americans. Farm and ranch communities in Montana used wind generators that produced direct current (DC) electricity that was often stored in batteries. However, these systems were short-lived due to the Rural Electrification Act (REA) of 1936. The REA subsidized the construction of rural electric distribution lines, transmission lines, and electrical generation facilities through low interest loans. This government act dramatically increased the number of rural Montana communities that received grid-connected electrical service.
The energy crisis of the 1970s led to a resurgence of wind power interest. Electricity produced from wind was more expensive than energy produced