References
NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require a password.
Background
Wind Power Facts (American Clean Power Association)
“Today, more than 65,000 wind turbines across the country are generating clean, reliable power. Wind power capacity totals 125 GW, making it the third-largest source of electricity generation capacity in the country. This is enough wind power to serve the equivalent of 39 million American homes.” This resource from American Clean Power Association, includes reports, facts, and answers to some common wind power questions.
How a Wind Turbine Works (United States Department of Energy)
"Wind turbines operate on a simple principle. The energy in the wind turns two or three propeller-like blades around a rotor. The rotor is connected to the main shaft, which spins a generator to create electricity."
Wind Turbines (Explain That Stuff!, Jan. 18, 2022)
"If you've ever stood beneath a large wind turbine, you'll know that they are absolutely gigantic and mounted on incredibly high towers. The longer the rotor blades, the more energy they can capture from the wind. The giant blades (typically 70m or 230 feet in diameter, which is about 30 times the wingspan of an eagle) multiply the wind's force like a wheel and axle, so a gentle breeze is often enough to make the blades turn around. Even so, typical wind turbines stand idle about 14 percent of the time, and most of the time they don't generate maximum power. This is not a drawback, however, but a deliberate feature of their design that allows them to work very efficiently in ever-changing winds."
Impact on Real Estate Values
Do Views of Offshore Wind Energy Detract? A Hedonic Price Analysis of the Block Island Wind Farm in Rhode Island (Energy Policy, Aug. 2022) E
“Social concern and disapproval of offshore wind by coastal communities causes delays and costs to offshore wind development. One concern is property value impacts stemming from a loss of pristine ocean views. We evaluate this concern using the Block Island Wind Farm (BIWF), the first of its kind in the United States…In sum, our findings suggest that the viewshed impacts of the BIWF were minimal.”
If Wind Farms Impact Property Values It Appears to be Positively (Medium, Nov. 12,2019)
This study found that the evidence for property value impacts is weak and that “lack of harm” data is robust. The study indicates that even as property values continue to be reassessed, there is no between nearby wind farm and sales prices or the rate of sales.
Property Taxation of Commerical Wind Farms and Facilities (Journal of Property Tax Assessment & Administration, 2019) E
Although recent large-scale research has not found a significant property value impact on homes near wind facilities, those impacts may exist in some cases, and the perception of value impacts among local residents could exist, but it is not well understood (Rand and Hoen 2017). (There may be a “self-sorting effect” [Guttery and Reichert 2017] when those concerned about turbines either move away or do not select the property.)
Property Value Impacts of Wind Turbines and the Influence of Attitudes Toward Wind Energy (Land Economics, Nov. 1, 2018) E
"The results of this study provide strong evidence that wind turbines in Ontario have negatively impacted surrounding property values."
The Impact of Wind Farm Visibility on Property Values: A Spatial Difference-in-Differences Analysis (Energy Economics, Mar. 2016) E
The estimates indicate that the asking price for properties whose view was strongly affected by the construction of wind turbines decreased by about 9–14%. In contrast, properties with a minor or marginal view on the wind turbines experienced no devaluation.
Wind Maps
Wind Energy Technologies Office Projects Map (US Department of Energy, 2022)
This map shows wind energy projects that the Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office has in it’s portfolio.
The U.S. Wind Turbine Database (U.S. Geological Survey, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory & the American Wind Energy Association)The United States Wind Turbine Database (USWTDB) provides the locations of land-based and offshore wind turbines in the United States, corresponding wind project information, and turbine technical specifications. The creation of this database was jointly funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) via the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) Electricity Markets and the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).
DSIRE: Database of State Incentives for Renewable's and Efficiency (NC State University)
DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Wind Maps (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
This collection of wind maps and assessments details the wind resource in the United States.
Opposition
The U.S. Will Need Thousands of Wind Farms. Will Small Towns Go Along? (The New York Times, Dec. 30, 2022)
“In the fight against global warming, the federal government is pumping a record $370 billion into clean energy, President Biden wants the nation’s electricity to be 100 percent carbon-free by 2035, and many states and utilities plan to ramp up wind and solar power. But while policymakers may set lofty goals, the future of the American power grid is in fact being determined in town halls, county courthouses and community buildings across the country. The only way Mr. Biden’s ambitious goals will be met is if rural communities, which have large tracts of land necessary for commercial wind and solar farms, can be persuaded to embrace renewable energy projects.”
Wind Turbines Haven't Been Universally Welcomed by Everyone in Iowa (The Gazette, Feb. 23, 2019)
Despite being approved for construction that year by the county, a legal fight — one that saw the city of Fairbank and a group of area residents file separate lawsuits against the development — broke out over whether the county’s more than 40-year-old zoning ordinance allowed for wind turbine development. In mid-2018, the turbines were ordered to be torn down by a district judge. They were dismantled late last year.
New Rebellion Against Wind Energy Stalls or Stops Projects (Seattle Times, Feb. 21, 2018)
For many critics, their opposition starts with a simple disdain for the metal towers that support blades half the length of a football field. They want the views from their kitchen window or deck to be of farmland or hills, not giant wind-harnessing machinery.Others cite grievances that have long circulated on the internet from people living near the towers. They claim the turbines make them dizzy, irritable and unable to sleep. The whooshing noise and vibration from the blades, they say, force them to close windows and blinds and use white noise to mask the mechanical sounds.Still other homeowners fear for their property values, as fewer people will want to buy a home overlooking a wind farm.
Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions
"The purpose of this site is to sort through many thousands of articles, studies and reports on energy matters, select a representative cross-section of informative material, and then organize it in an understandable manner." Offshore wind is one of the many topics covered on this website.
Industrial Wind Action is "dedicated to providing information on industrial wind energy to enable communities and government officials to make informed decisions."
National Wind Watch™ is a nonprofit organization that promotes awareness of the negative impacts of industrial wind energy development on our environment, economy, and quality of life.
Nina Pierpont’s research on the physical impact of wind turbines on nearby residents. While some dispute her claims and small sample size, further study is warranted.
Wind Energy Websites
American Clean Power Association
ACPA is a national trade association representing companies and individuals involved in the wind power industry. It promotes wind energy as a clean source of electricity for consumers around the world. The organization website does a good job addressing opposition to wind farms.
Texas Tech University’s National Wind Institute (NWI) is based on a strong foundation of more than 40 years of research and education on the impact of wind on structures and human life.
A magazine serving decision-making professionals involved in the North American wind energy generation and distribution business.
Wind Energy Technologies Office: WINDExchange (US Department of Energy)
The WINDExchange is a resource provided by the US Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office. It helps “communities weigh the benefits and impacts of wind energy.” You can search by state, utility scale wind (land-based or offshore), or by distributed wind (community or residential). They have resource maps, project development information, and technical models, tools, and guidebooks.
Non-profit organization dedicated to increase wind energy opportunities for rural landowners and communities. Rich collection of resources including industry links, news, state regulations, lease guidelines, and more.
eBooks & Other Resources
Wind Farms: Performance Economic Factors and Effects on the Environment (eBook)
Wind Power Basics: A Green Energy Guide (eBook)
Power From the Wind (eBook)
Greening the Wind (Audiobook, eBook)
The Homeowner’s Guide to Renewable Energy (Audiobook, eBook)
Wind Power for Dummies (Audiobook, eBook)
Wind Power Basics (Audiobook, eBook)
Have an idea for a real estate topic? Send us your suggestions.
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