Landowners are key benefactors from the deployment of wind and solar power generation facilities.For example:
• Wind projects occupy a small percentage of the land in a project area and they co-exist well with farming operations. In open, flat terrain, a utility-scale wind plant will require about 60 acres per megawatt of installed capacity. However, only 5% (3 acres) or less of this area is actually occupied by turbines, access roads, and other equipment--95% remains free for other compatible uses such as farming or ranching. • Wind farms can revitalize the economy of rural communities, providing steady income through lease or royalty payments to farmers and other landowners. Although leasing arrangements vary widely, a reasonable estimate for income to a landowner from a single utility-scale turbine is about $3,000 a year. For a 250-acre farm, with income from wind at about $55 an acre, the annual income from a wind lease could be $14,000, with no more than 2-3 acres removed from production. Such a sum can significantly increase the net income from farming. Farmers can grow crops or raise cattle next to the towers. • Turbine rents paid to farmers can be an important source of income to farmers in a competitive economy.
• Wind projects are compatible with ongoing hunting activities. Wind project operations do not impact game populations and wind easements do not prohibit hunting.
• Wind turbines provide landowners a constant revenue source through lease and royalty payments.
• Wind turbines and access roads only take up an average of five percent of the land. The other ninety five percent remains open for previous land uses.
• Wind farms help create jobs and tax payments for the local community, benefiting landowners and towns alike.
• Wind farms result in the building of high-quality access roads for site access which landowners can also use to access their property.
• Construction typically leaves the land used for the wind development in the same or better condition than when construction began. Often times double digging methods and reseeding is completed after construction.
• Landowners can retain land-use rights and ownership.
• The footprint of turbines and related access roads make up only a small percentage of the land leased for a wind energy site. Base area of each turbine is only about 20 feet in diameter. Farmers can safely grow crops or raise cattle right up to the base of a wind tower.
• All electric gathering lines are underground. • The wind farm requires no water (only a small amount for cleaning the blades if normal rainfall does do otherwise)
So how does a landowner measure the wind resource on my land to check its viability for a wind generation facility?This assessment can take place in a number of ways.The most economical is to consult a wind map prepared by a reputable government agency or wind energy company.However, wind maps are not always detailed to the level of individual properties and there are many factors, such as hills, buildings, and trees that may further cause variances from the map. The next step is to obtain data (ex. wind speeds at various heights) that has already been measured by other groups in your area. State governments and airports frequently have weather stations around the state in which they receive wind speed data. Lastly, you can measure your own wind speed by installing a device called an anemometer. Some state energy offices have a loan program in which you can rent an anemometer and data loggers to record your wind speed data. Infinite Energy Resources can provide the landowner a trusted advisor who is available to address questions and concerns, provide inspections, analyze wind metrics, and liaison with construction companies to get the site up and running.
