Inventor Fred Ferguson’s company, Magenn Power Inc., is developing a tethered balloon, which uses the wind to generate power.  Birds bounce off the balloon rather than get injured the way they do with windmills.  In retrospect it seems kind of obvious that someone should make this.  Check out the pretty pictures and the video: http://www.magenn.com/

For some more of Fred’s inventions, like a balloon ship with a part that rotates backwards, check this out: http://www.magenn.com/about.php