Harnessing the Plains wind has long been an inventor's dream

Humankind has harnessed the wind as a power source for thousands of years. Wind powered the ships which sailed the world’s oceans, seas and lakes. Wind powered mills which ground grain for flour. Wind powered pumps used to irrigate land and drain low-lying lands. Wind pumped water up to tanks to water stock and provide for pioneer families.

When the great American westward migration began, wagons were the primary form of transportation. The wagon of choice was a scaled down version of the heavy Conestoga freight wagons used in Pennsylvania. The Conestoga wagon would require a team of 10 to 12...