Wind Mills Gain Popularity in India

Located in an obscure town in India's west, is Asia's largest windmill project. In 2006, India overtook Denmark to become the fourth largest producer of wind energy in the world. Indian company Suzlon ranks among the world's top manufacturers of wind turbines. A few years ago, it was a modest textiles firm. And today, it is setting up massive windmill projects in countries like China and Australia. On the Indian home front, the federal government is heavily promoting the tapping of wind energy. Tax breaks make windmill projects an ideal and safe investment opportunity for entrepreneurs. Bajaj Auto Limited, one of India's automobile giants, is among the earliest investors in wind energy. Today it gets 90 percent of its power from the wind. Now many other corporate houses have followed suit. But just three percent of India's total power mix now comes from renewable sources of energy. [Sandeep Shorotri, Wind Energy Expert]: "For reducing global warming, there should be a minimum use of energy, and we should try that maximum energy should be produced from non-conventional source. In non-conventional energy the best is solar energy, second is wind energy and third is energy produced by sea waves as well as energy generated from hot water springs. India hopes to attract about $21 billion worth of investments in renewable energy during the 2007-2012 Five-Year Plan period. Wind energy has a number of advantages over other sources. [Sandeep Shorotri, Wind Energy Expert]: "The cost of maintenance of windmills is the least. Of course, the initial cost is higher but that can be managed through some promotions and sponsorships. The third benefit is that its source is infinite. Despite its pledge to adopt clean technology, coal remains the backbone of India's power sector, making up about 60 percent of generation.