Rare earth magnets 'found in the towers' is a rather mysterious idea. I can only guess this is about relatively modest requirements of direction control motors.

Actually, I just learned the answer a few weeks ago when I toured a wind-farm: Vestas uses magnets to secure ladders, lights, and other items to the inside of the tower instead of drilling holes. This neatly heads off problems with water egress and rust.

It is a little daunting to see that ladder going up into the dizzying heights and see that it is held in place by the same technology that keeps the kids' art stuck on the fridge.

Here's their patent on it: https://www.google.com/patents/US8567131

Thanks for this - I never would have guessed it!

ISTM a generator, even if it were set up to use induction, first would need to generate a small current using permanent magnets to "jump-start" the process. Without magnets, if no current is flowing, no magnetic field is created, and no power is generated.

Industrial wind turbines just use power from the grid to start up.

Correct, and you could also use a battery to start up.

It was not a great reference to clarify matters, its promotional language, but they state "Vestas’ current turbine range does not use rare earth elements in the generator. "