Farming the Wind: Wind Power and Agriculture

I didn't really expect them to come all the way out here in northern Iowa to start a wind farm. But this is really great. Now we grow corn on the ground and generate power in the air—all on the same piece of property.

Delbert Watson, farmer near Clear Lake, Iowa

The marriage of wind farming and agricultural farming is a perfect match. The large open fields are ideal for wind collecting, and there are no emissions to deal with to hurt the food crops being grown underneath. It gives the farmer an additional income source as well.

The number of farmers and ranchers benefiting from wind power is growing. Here are some examples:

I think it's one of the greatest things that ever happened. It's good for my pocketbook. It's good for the environment. And wind is replenishable; we're not digging it out of a hole in the ground.

Chuck Goodman, retired farmer near Alta, Iowa, as quoted in Successful Farming. Goodman has three turbines owned by Enron Wind Corp., producing power for the utility MidAmerican Energy. The turbines take up about 1.3 acres of land, including an access road. Goodman gets $750 per year per turbine, plus 2% of the revenue, for a total income of about $6,000 per year.

From our winter pasture near the Wyoming border, we used to be able see all the way to Denver. Now all we see is air pollution. We believe it's time to begin using pollution-free energy in the West. That's why our winter range now boasts a wind farm.

Keith & Myrna Roman, ranchers in Weld County, Colorado.

[The wind turbines] are clean and they are noiseless. We just love them. Everybody around here likes them as far as I know. I hope in the future that more people get them. The wind's free and it's here.

Donald and Irene Decker, farmers in Pennsylvania, quoted in Environmental News Network, June 21, 2000. The Deckers have four 200-foot-tall wind turbines installed on their family farm.

http://www.ucsusa.org

Unfortunately there is a group of local luddites who are opposed to such clean renewable sources of energy, and have a whole site full of made up statistics and spin to persuade the clueless of their "righteous" cause. In fact, their mission statement starts out innocent enough:

Our mission is to offer fact-based information on the impact of wind turbines within the entire region of upstate New York.

Unfortunately, the rest of the site gives lie to that statement.

Save Upstate New York, A Concerned Citizens Group seems to be a group of NY Citizens concerned with protecting their friends and neighbors (from what we aren't really sure), but in reality, it's Tom Golisano of Fisher Asset Management, a Governor hopeful playing political games.

Say YES to Wind, and NO to Tom Golisano.

Tom Golisano - Not Letting the Facts Get in the Way

Tom Golisano, three time gubernatorial candidate for New York’s Independence Party, has begun a movement against wind power, speaking against proposals at public hearings and funding a new group (Save Upstate New York) to foment opposition. Thus far in his campaign, he hasn’t let the facts about wind power influence his opinions.

A Rochester native and the founder of Paychex, Inc., Golisano is drumming up opposition to proposals to install wind turbines around New York by spreading myths.

http://www.eany.org/capitolwatch/votersguide/vg2005/oil_slick.html