Community wind is a growing sector of wind development that promises to increase local energy independence and prosperity while reducing carbon emissions. Community wind projects can be jointly owned by a variety of individuals including local small business owners, farmers, local organizations including schools and universities, as well as Native American Tribes, rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, and religious institutions. These projects can range from a single turbine to a community-owned commercial-scale wind farm.
Rural landowners who possess windy land benefit from the wind resource primarily by leasing their land to large wind developers who sell the wind energy. Others have installed their own wind turbines, individually or through local small businesses including farms, and local organizations such as schools, universities, Native American Tribes, rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, and even religious institutions. These projects keep more dollars in local communities, preserve local energy independence and protect the environment.
The key feature of community wind is that local community members own and have a significant financial stake in the project beyond just land lease payments and tax revenue. Community wind projects can be any size, ranging from a single turbine to more than one hundred, yet typically serve local communities or consumers. Community wind projects have been installed throughout the country and are in the planning stages in virtually every state with wind power development underway.
Windustry has many resources about community wind:
Community Wind Toolbox
High-quality practical information for those interested in developing commercial-scale wind projects
Community Wind Awards
Annual awards to innovators and pioneers in community wind.
Community Wind Projects in the Midwestern US
Information and locations of community wind projects throughout the US.
Community Wind Resources
Search our Wind Library for items tagged with "community wind."