Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for using wind energy to compress air or pressurize a fluid as a means of storing energy. Compressed air or pressurized fluid is generated directly by the wind turbines, thereby avoiding the energy losses that occur when wind power is used first to generate electricity to run an electrically powered air compressor. The compressed air or pressurized fluid is stored by means of expanding a volume at constant or nearly constant pressure. This method avoids energy losses that would otherwise result from compressional heating; while also allowing lower pressures to be employed, reducing the cost of the containment facility and avoiding the need to locate facilities in geographically favored locations where underground storage is available.

Abstract: An electromagnetically propelled transportation system designed to provide extremely high capacity at travel speeds between 50 and 150 miles per hour, to serve as a means of transportation within contiguous urban and suburban areas. The transportation system includes centrally controlled vehicles operated on a dedicated guideway, propelled by an embedded linear synchronous motor or other linear motor, which uses coils embedded in the guideway to carry an electric current which provides the propulsion force for vehicles on the guideway. In addition, the transportation system includes other components necessary to the operation of a high-capacity high-speed urban transportation system, such as off-line stations, entry and exit ramps, for acceleration and deceleration, which connect stations to the dedicated guideway, with appropriate branching to permit the same vehicle flow rate on the ramps as on the dedicated guideway, and means of switching or steering vehicles between the ramps and the guideway.