Wind power creates no pollution, has no fuel cost and is infinitely renewable. With its gusty Columbia River Gorge and windswept open farm country, the Northwest is a prime location for wind farms. Washington has tens of thousands of megawatts of wind-power potential, easily enough to generate power to supply 3 million homes. Montana alone is windy enough to supply 15 percent of the entire country's electricity demand. The Great Plains states could blow away more than their entire population's electricity demand, easily, with wind power.
Wind power carries potential economic benefit as well.
The best sites for its generation are in the most desolate, empty places that have enjoyed the least of the state's economic boom. Wind farming could provide a new source of income for farmers with little cash flow but plenty of wind. To ensure a steady power supply, wind turbines must be supplemented with other sources. Still, it may be competitive despite that drawback. Gas-generated electricity is costing about 6 cents a kilowatt hour, about the same as wind power when the cost of adding supplemental power to round out wind turbine down time is added.