I am constantly on the
search for quality content on
Alternative Energy Sources. Today, I
ran across a very
fun information that talks
about Eco Energy Sources from a different
point of view. Today’s fun article is titled Economic Development Benefits of Wind Power .
Article by joe thorton
Steve Clemmer, Union of Concerned Scientists
The potential economic benefits of continued growth in the wind industry are huge. The U.S. Department of Energy’s “Wind Powering America” initiative has set a goal of producing 5% of the nation’s electricity from wind by 2020. DOE projections show that achieving this goal will create 80,000 new jobs during the next 20 years, provide .2 billion in new income for farmers and rural landowners, and add billion in capital investment in rural America.
New Jobs
Wind power creates new high-paying jobs in a wide variety of industries. This includes direct jobs installing, operating, and maintaining wind turbines, as well as jobs at manufacturing facilities that produce wind turbines, blades, electronic components, gearboxes, generators, towers, and other equipment. Indirect jobs in the industries that support these activities are also created. According to AWEA, the U.S. wind industry directly employs more than 2,000 people and contributes to the economies of 46 states. The Danish Wind Turbine Manufacturer’s Association estimates that wind power creates 22 direct and indirect jobs for each MW of installed capacity-five jobs per MW for installing the turbines and 17 jobs per MW related to manufacturing. Operating and maintaining wind turbines can provide a long-term source of highly skilled jobs for local communities. New wind projects directly create about one operation and maintenance job for every 10 MW of installed capacit y. Additional jobs are created in local businesses that supply goods and services to these projects, and these employees spend their paychecks in the local economy. The degree to which wind power creates new jobs in a state or local economy will depend on how much of the labor, materials, and services are supplied by local businesses. Furthermore, the rate of job creation per unit of capacity is likely to decline over time as the industry grows and is able to manufacture wind turbines in larger volumes and at a lower cost. However, this will make wind power more affordable, which will lead to additional economic growth. Although only a handful of states have fossil fuel reserves, most states have the potential to generate a significant portion of their electricity needs from wind power. For states that import most of their energy, wind power provides an opportunity to create jobs by keeping more energy dollars at home. For example, a study by the New York State Energy Office fou nd that wind energy creates 27% more jobs in the state than the same amount of energy produced by a coal power plant and 66% more jobs than a natural gas power plant.
Landowner Revenues
Many people will benefit from the clean air and economic growth brought about by wind power development, but farmers and other rural landowners may benefit the most. The best wind resources tend to be located in rural areas and on farmland in the plains states. Wind power can provide a new cash crop for farmers and ranchers. Large wind turbines use only about one quarter-acre of land, including access roads, so farmers can continue to plant crops and graze livestock right up to the base of the turbines. One of the easiest and most attractive ways for farmers and other landowners to benefit from wind power is to allow wind developers to install large wind turbines on their land. Although leasing arrangements vary widely, royalties are typically around ,000 per year for a 750-kilowatt (kW) wind turbine, or 2% to 3% of the project’s gross revenues. Given typical wind turbine spacing requirements, a 250-acre farm could increase annual farm income by ,000 per year, or mor e than per acre. In a good year, those 250 acres might yield worth of corn, worth of wheat, and worth of beef per acre. Thus, lease payments from wind power can provide a stable supplement to a farmer’s income, helping to counteract swings in commodity prices. Another option is for a farmer or group of local landowners to own one or more wind turbines. These “wind co-ops” are common in Europe, but there are only a few examples in the United States. However, in the 2002 farm bill, Congress included new incentives to form wind co-ops and help farmers finance wind projects. A 1996 study by the Southwest Regional Development Commission in Minnesota found that local ownership of 200 MW of wind power could generate 300 more jobs and .8 million more income over a 30-year period than receiving land lease payments from wind developers. Local ownership of wind projects presents some challenges, however. Purchasing one or more large wind turbines can be a substantial inves tment for even a large farm operation. Smaller wind farms may also have to compete with larger, multiple turbine wind farms, which often have lower production costs due to economies of scale in manufacturing and installation. However, farmers may be able to team up with a rural electric co-op to finance a project and sell the wind power to its customers.
Tax Revenues
Wind power can also provide significant property tax revenues for rural areas. While local property tax rates vary widely, payments generally range from 1% to 3% of the project’s value. At 1%, property tax payments would provide approximately ,000 per MW of installed wind capacity for rural communities each year. These revenues can be used to build new schools, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. Wind projects pay property taxes that are often two to three times higher per unit of energy than conventional power plants because they are more capital intensive. To help level the playing field, some states give wind power an exemption or partial exemption from property and other taxes. Many wind projects also pay state business, sales, and income taxes. Throughout the United States, wind power is creating a new source of jobs and income that could help revitalize state and rural economies while providing a clean, inexhaustible source of energy.
training awareness
systems miller
profile miller
You may view the latest post atEconomic Development Benefits of Wind Power
Best regards,
JamesGallo
ekonenargi@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment