Wind turbines often make international papers because of their novelty or greenworthiness, but they often make local papers because some community board is loudly protesting their installation. As good for the environment as they may be, most neighbors simply don't want them in their backyards, calling them eyesores and even complaining of "strobe-like shadows" from the rotating blades.

Canadian company Magenn Power may cause some to change their tune; the Magenn Air Rotor System is a helium-filled wind turbine that floats 1,000 feet above the ground, getting it up and out of the way. The device is essentially a blimp wrapped in a steamboat's sternwheel and sends power back to the ground via its tether. Another benefit of being 1,000 feet up is that they are exposed to wind more constant than the serendipitous breezes us groundlings have access to.

Magenn hopes their newly-patented design will be used to power villages in developing countries, with India and Pakistan reportedly interested. And some other airborne windpower designs, one that is scheduled to be installed and another, from 2005, that we've not seen hide nor hair of since then.

via ny times