Windmill Farm

Visitors to the Palm Springs area can enjoy a trip through the collection of windmills in the area, offering an alternative source of energy to residents of California. There are large turbines spinning the wind energy into electricity that funnels to the local grid. The energy is delivered to homes and businesses in the area, just like any other form of energy would be delivered to an area. Tours of the area last about an hour and a half and participants learn how wind energy works just as well as other options. The tour not only shows the actual windmills, but the grid itself, mechanical looking splotches of land surrounded by barbed wire fences. A concern of windmill power is the damage it does to wildlife, mainly birds. However, the windmill farm tour guides assure people that the number of creatures hurt each year is off-set by the amount of energy saved. One of the most well-known windmill farms in the area is the San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm, located in Riverside, California. The farm was built in the 1980's, and is one of three farms in California. The farm features more than 3,200 mills, each standing anywhere from 80 to 160 feet high. Those interested in alternative energy and environmentally sound energy practices will enjoy a tour of the windmill farm.