Wind Energy for the Economy, Farmers, the Environment, and More

January 19th, 2011 by Zachary Shahan

Following up on the fun and interesting wind energy videos I’ve shared in the past couple days, here’s one more, focused on the various benefits of wind energy via local voices and experiences in Logan County, Colorado.

The anti-clean energy crowd has to try hard to find problems with wind energy. Basically, they make most of them up or exaggerate them. But when you look at the clear benefits of wind energy on this scale and consider how much wind energy can improve a community, it’s mighty hard not to love them.

“What’s important for rural communities is the additional income wind brings to areas that are dependent on fickle economics of farming,” Peter Sinclair writes. “Chad Martin, a renewable energy specialist with Purdue University Extension, calls wind a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity for farmers.” Base rates per turbine for leasing wind energy have increased considerably in recent years and is a great way for farmers to make some much-needed extra cash. It is truly a blessing that many of them have this opportunity now, given the extreme hardships farmers are under these days.

Along with helping the farmers, the taxes collected by local municipalities on these wind energy projects also help these governments. With a great number of governments struggling to balance their budgets, this can make all the difference.

As Edward Koester, Logan County, CO notes (regarding wind turbines): “Nobody gripes about them at all and everybody that’s got them is plum happy.”

Anyway, check out the video for more:

Photo Credit: charles henry

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Tags: Colorado, economics, farmers, farming, Logan County

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.