In early April, Virginia-based energy company Dominion Resources announced plans to buy 25,000 acres near Springfield for the Prairie Forks Wind Farm. Now the Southtown Star is reporting that Kansas-based developer Trade Wind Energy "has signed leases with landowners for two wind farms in DeWitt County and is in discussions for a third in Christian County." According to the Star, increased interest in wind power is due to technological advances and, of course, skyrocketing energy costs:

[Trade Wind Energy development manager Duane] Enger said improvements in wind-turbine technology have made it possible to operate at lower wind speeds - Trade Wind looks for areas with consistent 10 to 18 mph winds - but that rising energy prices also are a factor.

"There has just been more demand for energy the last few years," he said.

Each project would have capacity to house 100 to 150 wind towers and would produce 100 to 150 megawatts of electricity. A megawatt is typically enough to supply 250 to 300 homes.