Wind farms have become an important revenue source for some cash-starved school districts and rural towns. If further developed, they could also provide an influx of green jobs to the state.  But what do the opponents of wind power stand to gain?  In some cases, they're just looking for a payday, it appears.

The Rockford Register Star reported last week that an Arizona woman with land in Illinois has stalled some large wind projects on the basis that they would "adversely effect" her property. She would, however, drop the legal challenges in exchange for compensation. Wind advocates say a handful of lawyers are pushing similar shakedowns all across the state. You can call them the new blade runners.