Abstract: A controller and method is disclosed for operating a variable speed turbine to better track wind speed fluctuations for greater efficiency in conversion of wind energy to electrical energy. The controller of the invention controls the rotor speed in accordance with a wind speed supplied by a wind observer in order to approximately follow the varying wind speeds. The wind observer predicts the average wind speed at a subsequent point in time over the cross-section presented to the wind by the wind turbine. The average wind speed is applied to a parameter schedule to determine desired values for rotor speed and torque which are used by arotor speed stabilizer to command a reference load torque. The load torque of the generator is controlled in accordance with the commanded load torque, and therefore the desired rotor speed is approximated. During operation, the wind speed prediction process is repeated at each subsequent time interval, and the load torque, and therefore rotor speed, is controlled accordingly.