City council considers small windmills to provide power to local - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

If you've been thinking of ways to save money on your electric bill, you may now have a new option. Sioux City residents are closer to having the option to use small, freestanding windmills as a secondary source of power.

City planners say the system has worked well in other big cities, including Dubuque, Omaha, and Lincoln, but there are still a number of hurdles to clear—including permits—before anyone could use them in their backyards.

The addition of wind mills could potentially pump electricity back into the power grid, thus saving consumers money.

"I think it's helpful. It's green energy, it provides some advantages to property owners, lots of advantages to property owners," said Brent Nelson, senior planner for the city of Sioux City.

When council meets again in two weeks, they'll discuss height, and appearance, of the windmills. Nelson says he'll get pictures to show council members, based on the success that some of those other big cities have had.