Wind energy has grown tremendously in the United States in recent years—installed capacity today is more than 50 times what it was in 1995. Most states tax the property on which wind turbines sit, and some of that money flows to school districts. But how much, and what is the impact? To find out, researchers at Berkeley Lab, University of Connecticut, and Amherst College examined U.S. wind energy projects installed between 1995 and 2016 in 638 school districts across 35 states. They found that wind projects led to substantial increases in revenue and expenditures. School districts used these new funds to boost capital spending, rather than increase operating costs at schools, such as teacher salaries.
Co-authors Ben Hoen (Berkeley Lab), Eric Brunner (University of Connecticut), and Joshua Hyman (Amherst College) will discuss the findings and take questions on the webinar.