Wind turbines use blades to collect the wind's kinetic energy. Wind flows over the blades creating lift (similar to the effect on airplane wings), which causes the blades to turn. Some people still call modern turbines “windmills. Associate Professor of Engineering Systems and Atmospheric Chemistry, Engineering Systems Division and Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Wind energy has become one of the most powerful symbols of sustainable progress, capturing nature's invisible force and transforming it into electricity that fuels homes, industries, and cities around the world. Historically, wind power was used by sails, windmills and windpumps, but today it is mostly used to generate electricity.