Chicago Suburb Approves Nation's First Offshore Wind Farm

The Chicago area, already known for its green roofs and other eco-initiatives, may have made history earlier this week. In the northern lake suburb of Evanston, the City Council unanimously voted to move forward on a proposal to place 40 wind turbines on Lake Michigan, reports FOX News Chicago, putting the region in the running to have the first offshore wind farm in the United States.

Supporters say that the wind farm would generate enough sustainable energy to power 40,000 homes (more than the number of homes in Evanston today). Eventually the town could reap more benefits by selling power to neighboring communities on Chicago's North Shore.

The next step is to have developers submit their ideas on how to build the on-the-water windmills, which are estimated to cost $10 million each.