While large wind turbine farms remain in the domain of large corporations who can provide the capital costs of land leases, construction, equipment, and ongoing servicing, small wind turbines are now creeping out of rural installs and into urban / suburban areas.
Rather than using towers, wind turbines can be fixtures on buildings, capturing the wind as it gusts though the urban landscape.
Many communities are in the process of re-evaluating city ordinances that prohibit these installations.
This is taking place in one community at a time currently.
Some considerations in favor of allowing small wind are the potential to pump electricity back into the power grid, as well as homeowners' saving money on electricity costs.
Arguments against small wind in urban areas range from producing an 'ugly' skyline to concerns about structural support and damage if a system collapses.
Some citizens are starting to fight back against initial interpretations of residential zoning ordinances, taking their concerns to district courts for support, since these ordinances often don't mention wind turbines specifically.
Many proponents of urban small wind systems are getting support from state and national wind associations.
This industry is expected to grow considerably in the future as concerns about aging grids and high use demands grow.
Most installations currently are taking place on commercial structures, where concerns about structural support are not in play.
Sauer Energy has developed a vertical axis turbine with a mounting system designed for the sides of a building, rather than a pole on the rooftop.
Addison, TX has installed ten 8-foot tall wind turbines on top of a water tower, which supplies enough power to run the tower as well as street lights along the adjacent roads.
There is even a classroom at the base of the tower which provides education on wind energy and water distribution.
Given the early stage of the small wind sector and the small-scale of the systems involved, this field is suited to smaller entrepreneurs looking for a way into wind power.
The ideal worker in this field needs a strong background in construction, mechanical or electric systems.
The basics of attachment require knowledge of building structural components as well as safety, as you will be working from heights in many cases.
A master electrician's services are required for hook-up and final inspection.
NABCEP conducted its first small wind installer certification test only two years ago.
It does not confer a professional license, but helps consumers distinguish competency among installers.
Currently, the dominant source of training is through manufacturers for their specific turbines and is often a requirement for being a qualified dealer/installer for the company.
Another source of training are through state agencies such as the MN Office of Energy Security - Windustry - which partnered in 2011 with wind installer experts to create a cutting edge, state-of-the-art curriculum.
The initial 17 instructors who participated are now using this information to teach in community and technical colleges across the state.