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Jobs and Economic Development 

Impacts from Small Wind: JEDI Model 

in the Works

WINDPOWER 2012

Suzanne Tegen

June 4, 2012

NREL/PR-6A20-55166
2

Overview

• NREL’s role in economic impact analysis for 

wind power

• Jobs and Economic Development Impacts 

(JEDI) models

• JEDI results 

• Small wind JEDI specifics

• What we need from you to finish our model.

www.nrel.gov/analysis/jedi
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NREL’s Economic Impact Analysis for Wind

• JEDI models

o NREL strives to keep JEDI model multipliers updated and consistent. Models, 

user guides, and reports are peer reviewed, tested, and validated by industry. 

• NREL’s roles

o Gather cost, employment, tax, & other data

o Verify with developers, owners, counties

o Develop & test model

o Facilitate peer review

o Issue user guide

o Publish (www.nrel.gov/analysis/jedi)

o Manage and maintain models.

• Other NREL economic impacts analyses

o Workforce development

– National skills assessment

o Manufacturing and supply chain

o Analysis (including federal, state, and regional policy and employment)

o National discussion on renewable energy employment.

Photo by Warren Gretz, NREL/PIX 09636
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JEDI Model Availability

• Current JEDI models

o Utility-scale wind

o Natural gas (combined cycle)

o Coal (pulverized coal)

o Marine and hydrokinetic

o Concentrating solar power

o Dry mill corn ethanol

o Lignocellulosic ethanol

o Photovoltaic.

• JEDI models under development

o Small wind, offshore wind

o Hydropower (conventional)

o Natural gas (combined cycle)

o Transmission

o Geothermal

o Biopower

o Petroleum.

Photo from Sally Wright, Renewable Energy Research Lab - Umass, NREL/PIX15160
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JEDI Model Approach

Based on project-specific or default inputs (derived 

from industry norms), JEDI estimates the number of 

jobs and economic impacts that could reasonably be 

supported by a power generation project. 

JEDI estimates gross not net jobs. For example, JEDI 

estimates the number of in-state construction jobs 

from a new wind farm.

Jobs, earnings, and output are distributed across three 

categories:

• Project Development and Onsite Labor Impacts 

• Local Revenue, Turbine, and Supply Chain 

Impacts 

• Induced Impacts.

JEDI model defaults are based on interviews with 

industry experts and project developers. Economic 

multipliers within the model are derived from 

Minnesota IMPLAN Group (Bureau of Economic 

Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, etc).

Photo from Jessica Raker, NREL/PIX 14676
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Jobs & Economic Impacts from the JEDI Model

Wind Energy’s Economic Impact (Large Wind)
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Project Development & Onsite Labor

• Sample job types

o Truck driving

o Crane operation, hoisting, rigging

o Earth moving

o Pouring cement

o Management, support

o Siting.

Photo from Cross Island Farms, NREL/PIX 19923

Photo from Stephanie Lively, Boise State University, NREL/PIX 16147

Photo from Northern Power Systems, NREL/PIX 13853 Photo by David Parsons, NREL/PIX 05572 

Photo from istock 947687
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Local Revenues, Turbine, & Supply Chain

• Steel mill jobs, parts, services

• Equipment manufacturing & sales

• Blade & tower manufacturers

• Property taxes: financing, banking, accounting. Photo by NREL, NREL/PIX 11074 Photo from Clarence Council, NREL/PIX 09091 Photo from iStock/5676592 Photo from iStock/4088468

Photo from iStock/8384987

Photo from iStock/7792082

Photo from iStock/8433850
9

Induced Impacts

Money spent in the local area on goods and services from increased 

revenue: sandwich shops, child care, grocery stores, clothing, other 

retail, public transit, new cars, restaurants, medical services Photo from iStock/8913075 Photo from iStock/3275965 Photo from iStock/8007815 Photo from iStock/9774681 Photo from iStock/8783332 Photo from iStock/4363756
Using the JEDI Model
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Downloading the JEDI Model

www.nrel.gov/analysis/jedi/ 
12

The JEDI Model on Your Screen

12
13

The JEDI Model on Your Screen

The models contain state multipliers, but county or regional multipliers 

can be acquired and input into the model to carry out analysis on entities 

other than states

13
14

Detailed User Inputs

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Project Cost Data - Default Values

Construction Costs Cost Cost Percent of Purchased Manufactured

 Site Preparation and Erection Materials Per kW Total Cost Locally (%) Locally (%)

 Foundation Materials (concrete, rebar, etc.) $7,176,000 $240 3.8% 100% 50%

 Electrical (wire, conduit, etc.) $4,485,000 $150 2.4% 0% 0%

 Tower wiring kit $0 $0 0.0% 0% 0%

 Materials Subtotal $11,661,000 $390 6.1%

 Labor

 Trenching and Pipe Installation $4,784,000 $160 2.5% 100%

 Foundation, Erection, and Electrical $26,999,700 $903 14.2% 100%

 Labor Subtotal $31,783,700 $1,063 16.7%

 Construction Subtotal $43,444,700 $1,453 22.8%

Equipment Costs

 Turbine $94,962,400 $3,176 49.8% 0% 0%

 Tower $22,724,000 $760 11.9% 0% 0%

 Special Tooling (bolts, wrenches) $0 $0 0.0% 75% 0%

 Equipment Subtotal $117,686,400 $3,936 61.7%

Other Balance of System Costs

 Bird Flight Diverters $0 $0 0.0% 0% 0%

 Tower Raising Kit $0 $0 0.0% 0% 0%

 Batteries, Controllers and Misc. Electrical $0 $0 0.0% 0% 0%

 Buildings/Sheds/Fencing $5,382,000 $180 2.8% 100%

 Shipping Freight $5,980,000 $200 3.1% 0%

 Professional Services $7,176,000 $240 3.8% 0%

 Site Permits/Fees $239,200 $8 0.1% 100%

 Other Subtotal $18,777,200 $628 9.8%

Subtotal $179,908,300 $6,017 94.3%

Sales Tax $10,845,717 $363 5.7% 100%

Total $190,754,017 $6,380 100.0%
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Detailed User Inputs

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Project Cost Data - Default Values

Construction Costs Cost Cost Percent of Purchased Manufactured

 Site Preparation and Erection Materials Per kW Total Cost Locally (%) Locally (%)

 Foundation Materials (concrete, rebar, etc.) $7,176,000 $240 3.8% 100% 50%

 Electrical (wire, conduit, etc.) $4,485,000 $150 2.4% 0% 0%

 Tower wiring kit $0 $0 0.0% 0% 0%

 Materials Subtotal $11,661,000 $390 6.1%

 Labor

 Trenching and Pipe Installation $4,784,000 $160 2.5% 100%

 Foundation, Erection, and Electrical $26,999,700 $903 14.2% 100%

 Labor Subtotal $31,783,700 $1,063 16.7%

 Construction Subtotal $43,444,700 $1,453 22.8%

Equipment Costs

 Turbine $94,962,400 $3,176 49.8% 0% 0%

 Tower $22,724,000 $760 11.9% 0% 0%

 Special Tooling (bolts, wrenches) $0 $0 0.0% 75% 0%

 Equipment Subtotal $117,686,400 $3,936 61.7%

Other Balance of System Costs

 Bird Flight Diverters $0 $0 0.0% 0% 0%

 Tower Raising Kit $0 $0 0.0% 0% 0%

 Batteries, Controllers and Misc. Electrical $0 $0 0.0% 0% 0%

 Buildings/Sheds/Fencing $5,382,000 $180 2.8% 100%

 Shipping Freight $5,980,000 $200 3.1% 0%

 Professional Services $7,176,000 $240 3.8% 0%

 Site Permits/Fees $239,200 $8 0.1% 100%

 Other Subtotal $18,777,200 $628 9.8%

Subtotal $179,908,300 $6,017 94.3%

Sales Tax $10,845,717 $363 5.7% 100%

Total $190,754,017 $6,380 100.0%

Line item cost inputs are 

shown here. In addition to 

construction cost inputs, 

default values are provided 

for operating and 

maintenance and financial

parameters or the users can 

enter their own projectspecific data.
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JEDI Model Caveats

• Not a precise forecast but an 

estimate of overall economic 

impacts

• Inputs need your context!

• Project size

• Gross jobs vs. net jobs

• Local sourcing levels have 

significant impact

• Full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.

Photo from First Wind, NREL/PIX 16738
NREL’s JEDI Results

National Renewable Energy Laboratory Innovation for Our Energy Future
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Sample JEDI Results: Wyoming Infrastructure Authority: 

Deployment (2012 – 2021)

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

New HV Transmission Capacity (MW)

Annual Capacity Installed (MW)

Annual Wind Installations (MW)

Annual Natural Gas Installations (MW)

500 kV HVAC Line; 1,500 MW Capacity; ~ 310 miles (Right Axis)

500 kV HVDC Line; 3,000 MW Capacity; ~ 225 miles (Right Axis)

Collector System 230 kV Line; Variable Capacity & Length (Right Axis)

Source: Lantz and Tegen, 2011. 
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Wyoming: Base Case for New Wind over Time

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

Wyoming Employment (Annual) from 9,000 MW of New Wind Generation

Construction Project Development and Onsite Labor Activity Construction Equipment and Supply Chain Activity

Construction Induced Activity Operations Onsite Labor Activity

Operations Local Revenue and Supply Chain Activity Operations Induced Activity
Small Wind JEDI Specifics
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Small Wind JEDI Model

• Four turbine size categories:

o 0+ kW – 2.4 kW

o 2.5 kW – 10 kW

o 10.1 kW – 50 kW

o 50.1 kW – 100 kW.

• Costs vary by size, and users should add project-specific 

information.

• Supply chain and manufacturing jobs and impacts vary by 

size and by state (depending on multipliers).

• All default inputs and assumptions come from recent 

projects and industry interviews.

• NREL is requesting more data on current projects to help 

populate and validate the Small Wind JEDI model.
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Preliminary Small Wind Inputs and Outputs

Up to 2.4 kW 2.5 -10 kW 10.1 – 50 kW 50.1 – 100 kW

Installed

Capital Cost

$6000 -

$6400/kW

$6000 -

$6300/kW

~$6,000/kW $5000 -

$5400/kW

Operations & 

Maintenance

Need data ~$10/kW ~$50/kW $20-$25/kW

Large-Scale FTE Small Wind FTE

Construction 60-70 jobs/100 MW Up to 550 jobs/100 MW

Operations 6-7 jobs/100 MW ~ 8-25 jobs/100 MW

Preliminary model runs indicate small wind supports more jobs per MW 

than large/utility-scale wind. These JEDI model results are based on the 

preliminary model and will change as the model is updated.
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Your Input Is Needed: Improve the 

Small Wind JEDI Model
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Please Contact Me with Comments

• Data on turbines between <1 - 100 

kW

o Siting/development cost and labor

o Site preparation cost and labor

o Capital cost and labor

o Installation cost and labor

o Operations and maintenance cost 

and labor. 

• Cost and labor ranges may be 

provided instead of a dollar amount.

• We will not release company or 

project-specific data.

Photo by Frank Oteri, NREL/PIX 18440
Thank you

Suzanne .Tegen@nrel.gov

This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. 

DE-AC36-08-GO28308 with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.