Illuminated ornament powered by vertical axis wind turbine

A decorative ornament comprising:

• a vertical axis wind turbine comprising a plurality of blades adapted to rotate about a centrally located vertical shaft;
• wherein the vertical shaft comprises a top terminal end;
• a light emitting device secured to and located above the shaft top terminal end and within the rotating turbine blades;
• wherein the blades operate, for at least one wind speed, at both a low power operating point and a high power operating point;
• wherein the blades are coupled to an alternator and are adapted to produce electric power at both the low power operating point and the high power operating point;
• the alternator is selectively connectable to a load through a load switch;
• and,
• wherein, when an output of the alternator is determined to be on the lower power of two available operating points, the load is disconnected from the alternator and, after the blades and alternator gain momentum, the load is again connected to the alternator resulting in operation at the higher of the two operating points.