When gas prices soared above $4-gallon last year, who didn't want to end our dependence on foreign oil? On Thursday, a small Iowa community will show how it acted on that thought.

When it comes to risk taking, the community of Elk Horn, Iowa, has a history.

"We tend to do things a little differently than other communities," says Janell Hansen of Elk Horn, Iowa, which is about an hour east of the Omaha metro a few miles off of Interstate 80.

30-years ago, the town took a chance on a windmill.

"We had $30,000 spent before we even started resurrecting it," says Lisa Riggs of Elk Horn.

It came from Denmark in pieces. These days, the town of 650 draws 60,000 tourists annually.

"People thought we were crazy. But we did it. And it's become such a phenomenal attraction in the area," says Hansen.

As Denmark becomes a leader in wind technology, Elk Horn, Iowa, is taking a different yet comparable path.

"The technology is coming out fast and furious and we need to be ready for it," says Riggs.

"This is a Level 1 and Level 2 charging station," says Mike Howard who plans to be in the forefront of world change -- one electric car charging station at a time. Big ideas aren't new for him. One of his 5 local technology companies holds the largest antenna test range in the world. "By the way, we're doing this without government help."

Howard figured that with so many electric cars coming out in the next two years, why not build the infrastructure here. "It's the old adage. Field of Dreams. Build it and they would come."

There are four electric car charging stations in town. They are the only ones between Denver and Chicago.

"We will have the largest number of electric charging stations per capita in the world," says Howard.

There are more chargers in Elk Horn, Iowa, than electric cars -- counting the hybrids.

"We have a lot of reasons for doing it but most importantly it's the right thing to do - to go green," says Trevor Schroeter who works with Mike Howard at World-Cal, Inc.

Some think the idea is crazy. Many in town get it though.

"Whenever we think about doing something unique or different, we think about the windmill. We can do it," says Janell.

From a windmill to a car charger, Elk Horn, Iowa, is in on the ground floor. So, how long would it take to charge our electric car anyway?

"Until the charging technology gets better, you're going to have to be prepared to stop for 3-hours to charge up," says Schroeter. "As with everything, the more it gets built up, the better it will become."

Planners call the neighborhood Silicon Prairie. With California and much of the East Coast doing this already, this small town figured why not. It's sort of in their DNA.

"Infrastructure is very important to the success of electric vehicles," says Howard.

The team from Elk Horn, Iowa, plans to put several chargers along I-80 in the next year -- including Council Bluffs and Des Moines, Iowa...and Lincoln, Lexington and Kearney, Nebraska.

The company will hold a dedication on Thursday, November 12. It's appropriate that instead of cutting a ribbon that day, they'll take scissors to a gasoline hose.