Patent ID: 7377750

Claim:
A wind turbine, comprising: a) a wind rotor comprising a wind rotor hub and a plurality of blades attached to the wind rotor hub, said wind rotor hub having a rotational axis and first and second sides spaced from each other along said rotational axis, each of said plurality of blades including a non-conductive portion proximate said blade rotor hub and at least one conductive portion radially outward from said rotational axis beyond said non-conductive portion; b) an electrically grounded structure located on said second side of said wind rotor hub and stationary about said rotational axis when said wind rotor is in use; and c) a lightning conducting path of least electrical resistance extending from said at least one conductive portion of each of said plurality of blades to said electrically grounded structure, said lightning conducting path spaced from said wind rotor hub so as to inhibit arcing between said lightning conducting path and said wind rotor hub.