A growing number of rural Midwestern churches -- where generations have been baptized, married and buried -- are closing their doors as rural America loses residents to cities and suburbs. "There’s a kind of sadness to see the rural decline,” one observer says.

The developer of a 50-turbine wind farm says Goodhue County residents are leaving animal carcasses out to attract eagles. The presence of eagles could affect the project. State officials have not verified the accusations.

The necessary permits are in place to build a 95-megawatt wind farm north of Paynesville, but Edina-based Geronimo Wind Energy is still looking for a utility company to buy its energy. A St. Cloud Times report says this has delayed construction by a year on central Minnesota's first large-scale wind farm, that includes as many as 60 turbines.

A 2.5 megawatt turbine in Rosemount will provide power for the grid and a full-scale testing ground for new technology. 3M is already planning to test a new innovation: a thin film that puts tiny ribs on the turbine blades. Researchers believe the ribs will reduce resistance and increase performance.