Wind Energy Empowers Indiana Farmers

Rural farmers in Indiana can earn money from harvesting something other than just their crops: the wind. Leasing a portion of their land to wind energy developers can provide landowners with an important revenue stream without interrupting farming operations.

According to Chad Martin, a renewable energy specialist at Purdue University Extension, "The base lease payment per turbine has definitely increased. For national average figures, we're talking $3,000 to $5,000 per year per megawatt of production. And some people are getting up into the $10,000 range per year per turbine." This additional revenue can help farmers maintain their operations, especially in tough economic times.

Indiana's first utility-scale wind farm, Goodland I, was constructed in 2008, with a total capacity of 130.5 megawatts (MW). Already in the first half of 2009 this amount has increased by over 300% with the completion of the Fowler Ridge wind farm, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Indiana farmers can take advantage of this trend by leasing their land for construction of these projects, which typically take up a very small amount of the farms' workable land.

One successful example for Indiana farmers is the Trimont Wind Farm in Jackson, Minnesota, which is one of the projects from which Renewable Choice gets our renewable energy credits (RECs). This project has 67 turbines located on 8,900 acres--the turbines take up less than 2% of the project's total acreage, leaving the rest of the land available for corn and soybean farming.

"There aren't many opportunities that will come along in a generation such as what we're finding with the wind industry," says Chad Martin.

You can read more about this on the Green Energy News website.

PERSONALLY SPEAKING
Some of America's best wind resources are located in rural areas with strong farming traditions. A positive relationship between farmers and wind energy developers can help farmers thrive as we decrease our dependence on fossil fuel-generated electricity. ~Kevin

Kevin Maddaford is the Consumer Services Manager and Resource Development Associate at Renewable Choice Energy.