This week, visit Web sites that will teach us how to make electricity out of thin air.

Learn how to build your own wind turbine and other alternate energy projects at the System Designs-Alternative Energy Zone Web page.

Carl Braesicke, K5HCB, e-mailed me last week suggesting that I feature the Otherpower.com Web site "as a tie-in to Field Day and emergency preparedness." Otherpower.com is a group of alternative energy enthusiasts who want to spread the message that it's easy to make your own power from scratch! Having just paid my monthly electric bill, I thought, "What a great idea!"

Otherpower.com bills itself as "a huge free resource for alternative energy enthusiasts and experimenters. Build your own low-RPM permanent-magnet alternators, battery chargers, anemometers, windmills, hydro turbines, and more. Free information on building remote power systems for cheap. Very active discussion board...get your solar/wind/hydro power questions answered fast! Many DIY projects and experiments. Unusual and hard-to-find components and books!"

That whetted my appetite, so I Googled "alternate energy," which resulted in 113,000 hits. The following is a selection from that 113,000.

• System Designs-Alternative Energy Zone Web page consists of a useful list of links to articles that are intended to help you homebrew a variety of alternate energy projects.

• Home Power Magazine Web site is a wonderful site full of valuable information regarding "home-scale renewable energy and sustainable living solutions. That means comprehensive coverage of solar, wind, and micro hydroelectricity, home energy efficiency, solar hot water systems, space heating and cooling, green building materials and home design, efficient transportation, and much, much more." In addition to all the resources you will find here, you also can download the current issue of Home Power magazine from this Web site.

• Tom Elliot's Alternative Energy Information Center Web site is dedicated to the trials, tribulations, and successes of building and maintaining a passive solar design alternative energy system that provides the heat and power for Tom's house. It is very interesting and entertaining reading.

And while you are here, be sure to check out the ARRL's Emergency/Alternative Power Web page where you will find more excellent reading matter on the subject, but with Amateur Radio in mind.

Until next week, keep on surfin'.

Editor's note: Projects that went wrong in his youth gave Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, a fear of battery acid. To discuss batteries, battery acid and other neat stuff that makes holes in your mother's carpet, e-mail Stan.

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