Type "windmill" into Google and pages of entries pop up.

You can click on windmill efficiency, English windmills, vintage windmills or even watch a YouTube video on how to do the windmill -- apparently it's a breakdancing move.

The kind of windmills Oswego trustees are discussing would stand 60 to 80 feet tall on residential property that is between half an acre and an acre.

Larger lots would not have a height restriction beyond those imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Officially, they're called small wind energy systems, and they collect energy from the wind and convert it to electricity compatible with a home's electrical system. Proponents insist that they're key to improving the environment.

Wind, unlike oil, is a renewable energy source, and windmills don't produce pollution.

On the other hand, Lisa Linowes with the Industrial Wind Action Group -- which counteracts misleading wind energy information -- contends that it's more beneficial to reduce energy use than erect backyard windmills.

She cited high initial costs -- from $6,000 to more than $20,000 -- and constant noise at the level of a dishwasher.

Then there's the question of whether Oswego has wind strong enough and consistent enough to make purchasing a small wind energy system worth the investment.

Village leaders should remember to have an open but realistic mind when considering ways to make the community more eco-friendly.

Just because windmills may be good for the environment doesn't necessarily make them a good fit for Oswego.