Conventional wind turbines have been criticized as ugly, large, and often so noisy they are too obtrusive for backyards.

But French firm New Wind wants to change that with the ‘Wind Tree,’ a 26-foot-tall tree fitted with 63 tiny blades that can generate electricity.

Called aeroleaves, the tree’s leaf-like blades—essentially micro wind turbines—work at speeds as low as 4.5 mile... read more...