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BOISE - New technology developed in Boise could bring some fresh air in the form of green energy right to your backyard.

It comes in the form of a windmill, but not the typical kind you might find on top of a barn.

It's patterned after a helicopter and developers say with a little wind it can produce a lot of useable power for homeowners and small businesses.

"I've never seen an individual wind generator like this that the average person could put in their backyard," said Jeff Weiss, who is seeing the turbine for the first time.

The windmill, called the Blackhawk, is a vertical axis wind turbine with an articulating rotor.

The windmill rotates more like a top rather than a clock when faced with wind.

Inventor Bruce Boatner says by absorbing wind energy in this way it can harness more power. 

"This unit, 10-foot unit, could power an entire home in a very, not a very windy, but fairly windy area," Boatner said.

The design will be marketed to homeowners and small businesses as an alternative to conventional power-generation methods.

"You couldn't introduce a product like this at any better time," Weiss said. "I think everybody's looking at what could they do to not only save energy, but become independent.”

Weiss likes the promise of the device.

"Having an option like this that's available to individuals to help power your home just seems amazing," he said.

For the last several months Boatner and his team have been tweaking and testing their windmill in Owyhee County. 

Boatner says their test results were promising, and if they used larger windmills they could generate enough energy to power several homes.

To get up and running, customers would have to install the windmill and tie in to the current power grid.

"I think it's exciting for two reasons. This technology at this time, and right here in Boise, Idaho is very cool," Weiss said.

Boatner says they are looking for 10 tests sites throughout the state so they can figure out the best places to market this new patented technology.

The windmills will go into full production after the first of the year.

Boatner says they haven't decided on a final price for their product just yet, but once they do he anticipates it will take on average a few years to break even.

Learn more at CPMach.com.