When gas prices soared above $4 a gallon last year, thoughts again turned to ways to end our dependence on foreign oil. Some people took those thoughts and acted on them.

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.

Thirty years ago, the town took a chance on a windmill. "We had $30,000 spent before we even started resurrecting it," says Lisa Riggs. It came in pieces from Denmark.

Today, the town of 650 draws 60,000 tourists. "People thought we were crazy, but we did it and it's become such a phenomenal attraction in the area."

As Denmark becomes a leader in wind technology, Elk Horn is taking a different yet comparable path. "The technology is coming out fast and furious and we need to be ready for it. This is a level 1 and level 2 charging station."

Mike Howard 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 five local technology companies holds the largest antenna test range in the world. "By the way, we're doing this without government help."

He 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, the only ones between Denver and Chicago. "We will have the largest number of electric charging stations per capita in the world."

There are more chargers in Elk Horn 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.”

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."

From a windmill to a car charger, Elk Horn is in on the ground floor. So how long would it take to charge an electric car? "Until the charging technology gets better, you're going to have to be prepared to stop for three hours to charge up. 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 the genes. "Infrastructure is very important to the success of electric vehicles."

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

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