It seems that windmills on-site at residences are rare, rural homesteads aside. They are mostly seen at centralised wind power generation plants. On the other hand solar panels, generating electricity or heating water, are increasingly common. I imagine homeowners are reluctant to take on the burden of maintaining a windmill, and there are probably more objections to their use from people in the neighbourhood. Solar panels are fairly unobtrusive, but windmills are highly visible, and possibly audible. Unfortunately, these concerns hold more weight at the public meetings than concerns for the environment, or concerns for our unsustainable lifestyles.