Several mob-linked wind projects later were found to be poorly built, and some are now off-line. "This is the amazing thing, that developers got public money to build wind farms which did not produce electricity," Roberto Scarpinato, a veteran anti-Mafia prosecutor in Sicily, told the Financial Times newspaper.

Even the mob is going green these days.

Italian mafia gangs have reportedly muscled their way into lucrative wind farm construction deals.

With European subsidies making wind power a hugely profitable business, the omerta guys have gone PC by weaseling their way into projects across Sicily and in several projects on the mainland.

A prosecution investigation dubbed "Operation Wind" revealed mob promises of money and votes for local politicians in exchange for help in approving wind farm projects.

Several mob-linked wind projects later were found to be poorly built, and some are now off-line.

"This is the amazing thing, that developers got public money to build wind farms which did not produce electricity," Roberto Scarpinato, a veteran anti-Mafia prosecutor in Sicily, told the Financial Times newspaper.

An earlier investigation into a wind power fraud case in western Sicily resulted in eight arrests in February.

Italy is No. 4 in Europe in wind production, a key eco-friendly power source.

It guarantees sky-high rates of $240 per kilowatt hour, virtually assuring operators of fat profits, the newspaper said.

Web link: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/05/06/2009-05-06_italian_mob_chasing_windmills.html"