An article published by Minot Daily News today provided some interesting insights into the wind energy industry in North Dakota.

According to the article, a demonstration project that turns wind energy into hydrogen fuel for cars brings us one step closer to making it affordable (or at least competitive).  Ron Rabenitsch, manager of the alternative technologies division for Basin Electric Cooperative, said a larger project would be more expensive to start but could provide ‘economy of scale.’

At the end of the article is a brief synopsis of a meeting state legislators had yesterday.  They discussed possible legislation to regulate wind farms.    There was also a list of utility-scale wind projects.  I counted 12 running wind farms and six farms that have been announced.

I couldn’t help but re-visit the Windbelt site, a new wind energy technology that uses a belt made from kite-like material rather than turbines.  I understand it’s supposed to be more economical to produce energy this way.  I was excited to see they’ve updated the site.

Even more exciting:  WINDBELT DEVELOPER KITS ARE COMING MID-2008.  

As much as I love the giant flower look of wind farms, I would love to see windbelt technology tested in North Dakota (before the next legislative session).  It may help ease some of those regulations AND it could help make producing and exporting wind energy easier.