This windmill is a masterclass in simple mechanical design. As the blades catch the wind, rotational motion is converted into a steady up and down pumping action using gears and linkages that require no electronics or fuel to operate. Built to run continuously, the system automatically adjusts to wind speed and can operate for decades with minimal maintenance. Its ability to pump water reliably made it essential for farms, ranches, and remote locations long before modern infrastructure existed.

Here’s how wind turbines work: wind turns the blades around a shaft inside the turbine, which spins a generator. Energy then travels through cables under the seabed and connects to an offshore substation, and then to a power station on land. https://cbsn.ws/3TekJzK | 60 Minutes