Installation

There are wind turbines designed for everyone from residential homeowners to utilities, and from private to corporate use. Small wind turbines can be bought with cash, and commercial-scale projects can be financed. Distributed wind power projects, such as those for a home or ranch or business, are often less than or equal to 100 kilowatts (kW).

Neighbors and landowners who support local land-based utility-scale wind farms have many economic benefits.

Large wind power plants on land and in the ocean are typically spread out over a wide area, with wind turbines being located relatively far away from each other. For this reason, in most cases, modern wind power plants will include turbines installed on the property of several landowners or in a vast offshore leasing area. Smaller, distributed scale wind power plants of multiple utility-scale wind turbines could be installed on the land of a single owner, but the owner would likely sell power to or be deployed by a local power utility or energy cooperative.

The arrangement between a landowner and wind energy developer is typically a hosting or leasing arrangement. In this relationship, the landowner is paid a combination of fixed and variable rates depending on the prevailing market and project performance. This arrangement offers a consistent and attractive cash flow at little or no financial risk to the landowner. The project’s impact on the landowner can vary depending on the land use at the site. For example, access roads and service traffic have little to no impact on ranching operations but may have a greater impact on tilled land. Hosting arrangements are long term but not perpetual.

Communities near offshore wind farms are also often involved in the decision to site fixed-bottom or floating wind turbines along the U.S. coastline, in addition to ordinances, regulations, and other hurdles a developer must cross to construct a new wind power plant.

In the case of both offshore and land-based wind power projects, developers may also voluntarily offer incentives to local communities impacted by their development. These community benefit agreements can include financial and nonfinancial benefits for neighbors. Review the Community Benefits Guide to explore examples.

There are also other economic and workforce benefits and few impacts to hosting wind farms in your community. You can also learn more about what happens to wind farms when they’re ready to be removed.