PORTLAND, Ore. -- A Portland developer wants to take alternative energy to new heights. The goal, create the first energy producing tower in the world, right here in the Rose City.

Imagine a tall, narrow, see-throug structure with hundreds of vertical wind turbines, located somewhere on Portland's waterfront. A symbol for Portland's skyline, a symbol for sustainability worldwide. That's the vision of developer Derek Hanna.

"Let's really make a difference here and do a first of its kind, totally self-sufficient, energy-producing tourist attraction that would make everyone in the city of Portland excited." Hanna calls it the "Smart Tower", short for sustainable modern art. It's 650 feet tall, with solar panels at base and top, with hundreds of energy-producing carbon fiber wind turbines. It would include hundreds of underground parking spaces, some sort of "mixed-use" space at ground level and an elevator leading to a public observation deck and restaurant.

Hanna says it needs to be 100-feet taller than Portland's tallest structure, the Wells Fargo Building, to capture the wind in its "egg beater" turbines.

"It would demonstrate to the world how you don't need to be dependent on fossil fuels, coal or nuclear energy and it would really set the stage for the world -- who Portland is."

Link: SMART Tower

Lead designer, Eric Cugnart, of Mulvanny G2 Architecture, explains the shape is kinetic. He says you'll be able to see through the 20 inch steel supports and vertical "egg beater" turbines. "You are two blocks from the building and you won't even see them."

Private funding will pay for the project. It's expected to cost as much as 120 million dollars.

Zoning limits do not allow buildings higher than 460 feet in certain areas of Downtown, or higher than 35 feet along the Willamette River without special approval.

For the next two years Hanna and the Mulvanny team will take comments from the City of Portland, the public and leaders in techology.

They'll come up with a final design and find a home for the "Smart Tower." If approved, construction will start in about four years.