Big wind isn't cheaper than small wind. Both cost about $1,000/kW in my humble opinion.

Also, wind turbine budgeting is not written in stone. This is rule of thumb math. In other words, $1,000/kW to install a wind turbine is only ball park figures. But, once you start to get into the large turbines (>100 kW), the figures start to firm up.

For instance, home built/installed units cost much less than commercially built/installed units, about 50% less. But, a person has to get involved and do the work themselves to avoid this extra "cost", right?!

However, once you get into the big turbines, you have to talk to the pro's. For instance, if you want to purchase a 1.5 MW GE turbine, it will cost you abut $1.2 million (i.e. about $800/kW).

But, if you want to install it, you have to spend another $300K. So, you're back to $1,000/kW. Again, this is "rated" kW. And we both know "rated kW" isn't the same as "realized kwh", which is the true measurement of performance.

The issue is that a turbine is only as good as it is "applied". If you install it in a real windy area, and it is a reliable, robust machine that rarely fails, then the owner will realize the value (and a short payback).

But, if it is "applied" poorly, in a poor wind, and isn't reliable, (perhaps until it is trashed), the payback can get very long (i.e. never) very quickly.

Comparing 2/3 the price to 100% the price is like saying you can get a Lexus cheap. Hey, it's still a Lexus. The price difference could easily be attributed to the fact that things cost more on the coast than inland. In other words, this is a small issue to argue about.

To me, the real issues, not in any order, are:

1. noise,
2. ease of ownership,
3. up-front cost,
4. ability to market the electricity,
5. permitting, etc.