Renewable energy development and operations can be complex. Whether you are a landowner considering wind turbines or solar panels on your property or are just curious about the benefits of renewables, our resources aim to answer your questions.
Here you can explore video testimonials from landowners about their experience or learn about the economic and social benefits and common misconceptions about wind and solar energy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wind energy can provide the same grid reliability as conventional power plants. Currently, wind is the leading renewable energy source in the U.S., providing 7 percent the nation’s electricity. Many states already rely on wind energy to power their homes and businesses, as both Iowa and Kansas receive more than 40 percent of their electricity production from wind power. Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Maine also rely on wind to generate 20 percent or more of their electricity.
Wind energy is far less harmful to wildlife than other energy sources. The National Audubon Society strongly supports properly sited wind power as a renewable energy source helping reduce the threats posed to birds. Further, bird fatalities at wind energy facilities represent a very small fraction of total annual human-caused bird mortality, approximately two to four orders of magnitude lower than other human sources of mortality. Also, more than 98 percent of land used for wind farms is left untouched by turbines and project infrastructure and can still be used for livestock grazing, agriculture, wildlife habitat, homes, highways, and recreation.
Wind farms support thousands of communities by bringing jobs, economic growth, tax revenue, and lease payments to rural areas. In 2019, U.S. wind farms provided $1.6 billion in state and local tax payments and landowner lease payments.
EDPR NA begins the process of building a wind farm with extensive site and location vetting. We conduct wind resource studies, confirm access to transmission lines, and get to know the community to provide factual information and ensure residents’ questions are answered. After finalizing our studies and obtaining the proper permits, we survey the land and prepare for construction. In addition to turbine erection, construction includes improving the roads, establishing an operations and maintenance (O&M) building, and connecting the turbines to the electric grid through transmission lines. Once construction is complete, we begin the reclamation process, restoring the land back to its original state. For more information, watch our construction video.
Utility-scale solar parks do not pose a significant risk to the loss of agricultural land. In fact, solar parks can generate enough electricity to power the U.S. using just 0.6 percent of land, or roughly the same area currently used for surface coal mining. Our team is dedicated to avoiding impacts to wildlife and natural resources and conducts extensive land, wildlife, and vegetation studies prior to construction of a solar park. We also continue to monitor wildlife during our projects’ operations. Since almost all solar park infrastructure is above ground, solar parks can also provide an opportunity for heavily farmed land to recover and regain nutrients for the next generation.
Limited water is needed to produce solar (and wind) energy. Our solar parks conserve millions of gallons of water every year, displace carbon emissions from fossil fuel power plants, and enhance air quality by mitigating the health effects of harmful air pollutants.
Solar parks create local jobs, additional funding for schools and roads, and pay millions to local landowners through lease agreements. Solar parks also contribute to local economic growth through increased spending in project areas during construction and operations.
Solar parks create local jobs, additional funding for schools and roads, and pay millions to local landowners through lease agreements. Solar parks also contribute to local economic growth through increased spending in project areas during construction and operations.
FAQ/Fact Sheet Downloads
Specific project fact sheets can be found on the project page.