The small wind turbine in Augusta County is the first of its kind in Virginia. It provides John Root with all the power he needs to run his house. "I think that renewable energy is good for the whole country, you get rid of pollution and on top of that I hope we get some all over the county, this is the beginning of something good."

But not all areas have been so friendly to wind power. Highland county and Pendleton county West Virginia have been fighting commercial wind turbines, saying the power isn't worth it.

Jonathan Miles, a professor and wind power expert at James Madison University says, while clean, wind power has its limits. "Wind power has the potential to have a negative impact on the environment to cause degradation of forested lands, possibly have negative effects on rivers to allow sediments to flow into the rivers."

One problem is that the wind isn't always blowing. That means power plants have to keep their production turned up even while wind turbines are working and some energy is wasted.

"Because of the intermittent nature of wind power, by law those electrons that the wind turbines are producing have to be utilized when their available there is no means to destroy them."

"Its probably best bargain for clean energy you can get." That's why Charles Bigalow supports and installs smaller wind turbines. He knows that the wind isn't always blowing but says, with good studies, steady power can be found. "There's been some studies done where they've tested winds for four years in one location and found they have an average of 17 mile and hour winds and thats not much variance, so its pretty much guaranteed that your going to have regular power and very predictable.

And he says the wind is blowing when power is most important. "Critical loads come in the wintertime, heating, wind matches heating requirements. Pipes freeze in the wintertime. Power goes out my customer has an emergency power supply in the dead of winter that can totally destroy his house. In the summer the power goes out and we turn some air conditioners out."

Congressman Bob Goodlatte says wind power may be the wave of the future, but not everywhere, hether its a good source of power or not... Many just don't want it in their backyard. "Its something thats very welcome in some places and in other places I understand why people don't think it belongs in their view shed. I think its something that each community will have to decide but I think it is something that will grow rapidly... and you'll find it in many parts of the country."

The wind power debate will continue in both Pendleton county West Virginia and Highland county. Pendleton's wind turbine project will face a hearing in June that could get the green light.

Around that same time, the Supreme Court of Virginia will be hearing the Highland county case, and may decide that the permits given to put up those turbines, were improper.