 Spirit Lake, Iowa. Installation and operation results in $20,000 to $25,000 profit per year.
Carbon County, Wyoming. Revenue from property tax on the Foote Creek Rim
Wind Plant provides 30% of the county budget.
The Wind Powering America team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory continues to develop and strengthen alliances with the agricultural sector and organizational alliances, including 25x'25, the American Corn Growers Foundation, and the National Association of Counties. In 2007, Wind Powering America began working with the National Association of Farm Broadcasters to provide monthly wind energy interviews for use on rural radio stations.
Agricultural lands in the United States are ripe for generating and utilizing renewable energy resources. With net farm and ranch income down and drought conditions throughout much of the United States, farmers and ranchers and others in the agricultural community are taking a serious look at how wind energy can become their new cash crop.
The agricultural community includes not only farmers and ranchers, but also rural community leaders such as banks, rural economic development organizations, rural businesses, agriculture cooperatives, agricultural extension, Chambers of Commerce, schools, county government, and other
groups that make up rural America.
- The agricultural community can benefit from wind's many economic, energy, and environmental attributes.
- Wind energy provides an additional source of income for rural communities, benefiting county and local services including schools, health care facilities, and roads.
- Landowners with wind development on their property receive $2,000 to $5,000 per turbine per year.
- Wind energy uses less water than fossil fuel plants.
- Turbines do not take up much land. Crops can be grown and livestock grazed right up to the base of the machine. Turbines do not interfere with daily operations.
- Homegrown energy makes the U.S. more secure.
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