Abstract: An improved vertical axis wind turbine is disclosed. The wind turbine in accordance with one embodiment, does not include a support tower but instead includes a bearing support for mounting a torque tube rotatably connected to blades, the bearing support being secured to ground by a plurality of guy cables. The torque tube may comprise a plurality of tube sections including an intermediate bearing and additional guy cables for supporting the torque tube to the ground in a vertical orientation. In another embodiment of the present invention, control means are disclosed for independently controlling the pitch of respective wind turbine blades in response to relative wind direction.