In 1888, a tall wind turbine in the backyard of a grand mansion on Cleveland's Euclid Avenue caught the attention of many. To most passers-by, it seemed like an unusual curiosity—perhaps the toy of a wealthy man.
But this was no ordinary decoration. It was the pioneering work of Charles Brush, one of the first people to harness wind power for generating electricity.
Brush's wind turbine had 144 wooden blades which were mounted on a sixty-foot tall tower. He stored the electricity in twelve batteries in his basement.
Yet Brush, a businessman, never patented the wind turbine, nor did he seek to start a company to manufacture the device.
In this episode, we dive into Brush's invention and its significance. My guest today is Paul Gipe, a wind power advocate for over four decades.
Paul is the author of several influential books on the wind industry, including Wind Energy for the Rest of Us and Wind Energy Comes of Age. He also runs an excellent website full of information on the wind industry.
Join us as we explore the history of wind power and its evolution with one of the leading experts in the field.
BOOKS MENTIONED:
Wind Energy in America, by Robert Righter.
