Nov. 8--KING CITY, Mo. -- Brenda Spiking can continue to thank the benefits of wind energy for steady traffic at the Gentry County restaurant she and her husband operate.

Profits are anticipated to keep blowing through King City and the surrounding area as well, now that energy developer Wind Capital Group plans to build a second wind farm south of town in DeKalb County. The company's Bluegrass Ridge Wind Farm injected dollars into the community through the first construction of nearby wind turbines beginning in spring 2006. Now, a second round of economic windfall is starting to occur with the Lost Creek Wind Farm, where construction began over the summer.

Mrs. Spiking and her husband, Paul, own the Aberdeen Steak House -- a business that lures wind farm workers for meals and helped turn over retail dollars and create jobs for King City's economy. She said residents have expressed pros and cons about wind energy.

"I can't really say anything bad," she said. "It was a real plus. It's going to give you another two-year boost."

Those thoughts are echoed in a new report published by the University of California-Berkeley, in collaboration with the University of Illinois and Yale University. The study determined that clean energy and an aligned climate policy translate into economic growth and jobs for the nation. The analysis said that investments in wind and other clean forms of energy will produce from 18,000 to 29,000 jobs in Missouri by 2020.

The Lost Creek project itself is slated to generate 2,500 jobs in the area, said Wind Capital spokesman Tony Wyche. Some of those jobs will center on transportation and installation of the wind turbines, along with the manufacture of generators and transformers.

"A project like this means there's jobs in the supply chain," Mr. Wyche said.

He said King City and Rock Port will benefit from wind farms. "That's money that's going to stay in those communities."

Wind farm activity has boosted banking and grocery sales, Mrs. Spiking said. Those who have come to Gentry County due to the wind farms are becoming community members, she added.

King City Mayor James Gillespie agreed and said the local school district gains from enhanced tax revenues. More residents have become receptive to the newcomers, he said.

"All these workers eat in the restaurants and use the apartments here," he said.

Bus tours have also become more prevalent as national curiosity about the wind farms flourishes, Mr. Gillespie said.

Wind Capital also operates farms in Nodaway and Atchison counties, with plans to construct Wildcat Ridge in Atchison and Holt counties.

Ray Scherer can be reached

at rscherer@npgco.com.

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