VAWT's spin slower but have more torque, so this has been discussed several times to improve its output. VAWTs are just not very useful for generating electricity. I like them for pumping water and fish pond aeration.
The toothed rubber timing belt and cogs from a car have a 2:1 ratio, and they're cheap and easy to find in any city. Using a timing belt to speed up the PMA is not a good idea for several reasons, but it is easier and cheaper than counter-rotating rotors/stators, and it also avoids the slip-ring brush losses.
I'm probably a couple years away from building a HAWT (can't have one here, gotta move) so I probably need to buy some copper before it goes up in price any more. Any that I don't use shouldn't be hard to sell at the old price.