Thirteen landowners in South Australia have already signed up for stage one in that state's ambitious wind-turbine project, where 100 giant windmills are to built in two of that state's windiest regions. 'Wind farmers' can earn up to $5000 per annum from one turbine, providing a hedge to farmers coping with unpredictable weather and commodity prices, according to economists.

Sixty more windmills costing $160 million are planned for Port Lincoln. Some analysts are forecasting that the wind power industry could generate up to $10 billion worth of investment in Australia alone, along with 10,000 jobs in hard hit rural areas.

Despite the economic and environmental benefits, not everybody is enamoured by wind power. Environmentalists point out to visual and noise pollution as well as danger of windmills to wildlife such as rare birds. Investment house Babock & Brown, which finances wind farm projects around the world, said it was impossible for wind farm projects to proceed without community support.