Abstract

STATE SUCCESSES: USING OUTREACH AND EDUCATION

TO TRANSCEND BARRIERS TO WIND ENERGY 

Marguerite Kelly, Larry Flowers • National Renewable Energy Laboratory • Golden, Colorado

Objectives

Effectively achieving the 20% wind energy by 2030 scenario will require states to:

• Achieve public acceptance, education, understanding, policies, regulations, and behavior

• Understand how these changes will impact key stakeholders (e.g. utility, agricultural, 

educational, manufacturing, construction, and stakeholder groups including county commissioners, 

economic development specialists, PUCs , landowners, environmental groups, and the general 

public)

• Understand how these changes must be sustained over time and how new challenges must be 

met as markets, technologies, and policies evolve.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Powering America (WPA) program works with State Wind 

Working Groups to:

• Educate stakeholders in wind energy benefits and issues

Many states projected to contribute significantly to the United States’ 20% wind energy by 2030 goal have not yet 

achieved a first wind farm, and many more have not yet hit the 100-MW mark. These states are struggling with basic 

barriers of the need for understanding of:

• The wind resource

• Wind energy benefits and impacts

• Relative economics

• Economic development, water, and carbon impacts

• Issues such as transmission, utility integration, siting, and wildlife

• Involvement of key constituents such as the electrical sector, the ag sector, and county commissioners

• Effective policy

• An educated public and an educated workforce.

Other states have partially transcended these barriers and are encountering:

Successes Achieved in WPA’s Partner States Have Helped to Transcend Wind Energy Barriers

• Educate stakeholders in wind energy benefits and issues

• Engender regional learning and collaboration

• Build public acceptance and a favorable market environment for wind energy development

• Assist states in working through barriers.

Other states have partially transcended these barriers and are encountering:

• Organized pushback

• Land use

• Siting problems such as zoning, permitting, and environmental issues

• Interstate barriers such as transmission.

Indiana had no installed capacity as late as 2007. The WPA team 

educated stakeholders about the state’s excellent wind resource at 80 

meters, resulting in interest from developers and escalated project 

development. In 2010, the state is home to more than 1,000 MW of

Lack of a trained workforce has been identified as a barrier to achieving 

20% wind energy in the United States. WPA’s Wind Applications Centers 

(WACs) at universities in 11 states ensure that students learn not only 

through classroom instruction but also by participating as “consultants in 

installed capacity. 

One way to help address slow project development is to increase 

the level of public acceptance. The Utah Wind Working Group 

launched a wind outreach training course in 2009 to educate people 

who are interested in wind energy and want to communicate the

training” on projects. For example, 32 WAC students at Kansas State 

University completed 10 projects. Many students are immediately finding 

jobs in the wind industry after graduation.

who are interested in wind energy and want to communicate the

benefits to their communities (especially local government officials). 

As a result, in 2010 32 new wind advocates from diverse 

backgrounds are working at the grassroots level to promote wind 

energy in the state, and more trainings are planned.

Communicating economic 

development benefits increases levels 

of public acceptance and builds a 

favorable market environment. After 

wind power capacity in Illinois grew 

from 50 MW in 2003 to 1,119 MW in 

2009, the Center for Renewable 

Energy at Illinois State University

Montana addressed its transmission barrier 

by launching a transmission working group, 

which created a Montana transmission 

scenario brochure and commissioned and 

disseminated a wind integration study. Five 

major transmission projects are currently 

planned, and the Montana Alberta Tie Line 

is permitted and will be financed by a $161 

Anemometer data can provide an 

understanding of the wind resource 

that can make a crucial difference 

in development. A WPA 

anemometer loan led to Arizona’s 

first utility-scale wind project, the 

63-MW Dry Lake Wind Power 

Project near Holbrook that came

PIX16751/Johnson

•Zoning, permitting, and public acceptance are potential barriers. 

WPA has supported research in social acceptance, property values, 

and siting issues. Results are disseminated through national 

Webinars and Web sites, regional training, and state Wind Working 

Maintaining an adequate supply chain has been identified as a 

barrier to wind energy development. The Ohio Wind Working 

Group identified a plan and guided the Ohio Department of 

Development ‘s implementation of a $1.3 million project to identify, 

Energy at Illinois State University

prepared an analysis, Economic 

Impact: Wind Energy Development in 

Illinois, that showed that the 1,119 MW 

will result in $1.9 billion in economic 

activity over the life of the projects, 

including 6,019 full-time jobs during 

construction periods and almost 292 

permanent long-term jobs. 

million loan from the Western Area Power 

Administration (the first project financed by 

WAPA using the $3.25 billion American 

Recovery & Reinvestment Act transmission 

appropriation budget to finance qualified 

projects). NaturEner USA plans to construct 

the 309-MW Rim Wind Farm to connect to 

the Montana Alberta Tie Line.

Project near Holbrook that came

online in 2009. The project 

contributed approximately 

$110,000,000 to Arizona’s economy 

and will result in annual tax 

payments of $440,000.

PIX16702/Iberdrola Renewables PIX10926/Warren Gretz

Groups. grow, support, and market the wind supply chain in Ohio. A 

“matchmaking” service allows turbine manufacturers with supply 

chain needs to connect with component manufacturers in the 

state. As a result, Ohio is transforming its steel and mining industry 

base to supply future energy needs and employing more workers.

An understanding and buy-in from key constituents transcends wind 

energy barriers WPA has identified the agricultural and rural communities

Photo credit: Dan McGuire.

The information contained in this poster is subject to a government license | WINDPOWER 2010 Conference & Exhibition | Dallas, Texas | NREL/PO-7A2-47974

NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

Reference

energy barriers. WPA has identified the agricultural and rural communities

as key constituents and worked to actively engage them. As a result of a 

key partnership between WPA and the American Corn Growers 

Foundation (ACGF), ACGF executive director Dan McGuire has provided 

wind energy outreach to rural America for several years and in 2009 

reached an estimated 400,000-plus ag community members by attending 

agricultural events, staffing exhibits, serving on panels, and providing 

interviews and presentations in states such as Nebraska, South Dakota, 

Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.

PIX17247/Saratoga Associates PIX16213/Hodge Foundry