An Amador County Resident has created a new, more efficient breed of wind-energy turbine now being considered by the California Legislature. Stanley Marquiss, owner of Folsom-based Marquiss Wind Power, has been marketing an original invention - a 19-foot-tall turbine intended for mounting atop industrial and commercial buildings. Lodi Republican Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi had is co-sponsoring a bill promoting the turbines with Republican Sam Blakeslee of San Luis Obispo; who passed a similar measure with San Luis Obispo’s Local Government Committee on Wednesday.

 The new smaller turbines are so celebrated because they avoid a major pitfall associated with much larger turbines like the ones in the Altamont Hills near Livermore. The Altamont turbines are notorious for chopping up birds, a problem that has resulted in millions of dollars worth of damage each year. Marquiss’ invention is expected to avoid that problem completely and still generate a significant amount of energy. Two companies already have the turbines installed. A Marquiss company representative said they plan on installing several in Stockton soon. Nakanishi is in negotiations with the  California League of Cities, whose main concern is that the new turbines could signify an erosion of municipal power, and the development of ordinances to ensure proper instillation of the devices.