Posted by Randi on Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 8:01am.
Wind energy drives the blades of the windmill, and makes them turn. The blade axis is connected through gears to a generator, which is comething like an electric motor. Alternating electric voltage is produced by the generator as the blades turn. This electricity can be plugged into right away, but usually it goes through an electric device to either (1) charge a bank of batteries if this is a standalone system (so there can be power when the wind is not blowing), or (2) connect to the "grid" of a local power company. The "meter" then runs backwards when excess power is being generated, and the power is "sold" back to the power company, to be delivered back later when needed. In either case, the power gets to the house through wires.
You might find this article in today's New York Times interesting. It deals with just that subject, and has some pictures.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/garden/13wind.html
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