Getting the Facts / Dispelling the Myths

GET THE FACTS: WIND AND YOUR COMMUNITY

1) Landowners have personal property rights.

My neighbor doesn’t get to tell me what I can or cannot do with my land any more than I get to tell him what animals he can or cannot raise or what crops he can or cannot grow. Allowing folks to start telling people what they’re allowed to farm is a very dangerous and slippery slope.

2) Wind energy is good for local property values. 

National Association of Realtors: “If Wind Farms Impact Property Values, It Appears to be Positively,” referencing a 2019 study that found the evidence for property value impacts is weak and that “lack of harm” data is robust.

Wind Farm Proximity and Property Values: A Pooled Hedonic Regression Analysis of Property Values in Central Illinois.

3) Wind energy is good for local communities. 

Millions of dollars in local tax revenues and contribution agreements to support county expenses like staff salaries, emergency services, roads and bridges, education investments and more. 

Hundreds of construction jobs that bring millions of dollars in local economic activity at local stores, restaurants, and other small businesses.

Improvements to roads and bridges comes with every new project to ensure the equipment is able to be delivered.

Center for Rural Affairs: Wind Energy Yields Tax Revenue

Wind Energy Tax Revenue Fact Sheet

4) Wind energy is safe.

The turbines are controlled and monitored 24/7 for any issues that may come up like excessive wind, ice, or fire. Agreements are made between wind farm operators and emergency responders to effectively manage any emergency situation.

25 peer-reviewed studies have found have found that living near wind turbines does not pose a risk to human health.

5) Wind energy is quiet

Turbines have minimum setback standards for sound issues and each turbine must not make any more noise than what is considered roughly a whisper. The coal trains and semi-trucks that roll through most small towns make considerably more noise than this.

Health.gov study, “The scientific evidence does not demonstrate a direct causal link between wind turbine noise and adverse health effects.”

More Resources

Wind Turbines Make Good Neighbors

Health Study on Wind Turbines and Health Effects

Health Effects and Wind Turbines, A Review of the Literature