BILLINGS - "This is for the future."

That's what Taisei Construction Corporation Senior Advising Consultant Masahiro Sano says the company he consults is doing in Billings, Montana.

Today, Sano watched as crews began putting together a 50ft. wind turbine of a rather unique nature.

Instead of the horizontal fan-style which is common-place-- the company is introducing a new design which uses vertical blades to generate wind energy.

The turbine will be the first of its kind not only in Billings-but also the United States.

Representatives from the company met Billings' Rhyno Stinchfield a few years ago at a renewable energy conference.

Stinchfield is the President of Greenworld Partners.

"We emailed each other after that a couple of times," said Stinchfield. "About a year later I received an email from them asking if I would consider being their agent for the United States to launch this product into the marketplace."

From there, Stinchfield suggested the Montana State University of Billings- College of Technology campus as a good site for the turbine.

The school offers an associate's degree in training as a renewable resource technician.

Stinchfield says the turbine could be up to twice as efficient as current turbines.

"There's a lot of applications (for the turbine), said Stinchfield. "Whether, it can be in an urban application, on ranches, farms, there's a lot of interest in this in Montana and places like Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota."

The smaller size makes the turbine far more versatile for diverse surroundings.

If the turbine works well, Taisei hopes to market it on a mass level.

But don't be surprised to be seeing Taisei on a more local level.

The CEO visited Billings in June, and enjoyed his stay so much the company is considering opening an office in Billings.

"He has a custom to walk in the morning," said Sano. "And he was very impressed that every person he met said, 'Hello, good morning.' "