As the utility industry is restructured to foster competition, the challenge is to ensure that wind energy develops during these uncertain times and emerges as a viable industry and resource. A closer look at wind energy reveals important economic benefits. The fuel source is tapped and developed locally, supporting jobs and reducing dependence on fuel imports. In addition, wind power plants pay substantial property taxes to local communities and can boost cropland rents and prices for local land owners by as much as 50 percent to 100 percent. One advantage of wind energy production is that it allows energy producers and consumers to reduce risk.
Wind energy creates no air pollution.
Consider a hypothetical situation where a utility faces an investment choice between a coal-fired plant and a wind power plant. This would lead to an increase of 1.5 cents per kWh for the coal plant to produce electricity. Under these circumstances, costs would not increase at the wind plant, making it the better investment. Utilities can invest in low cost, non- polluting resources like wind power. In the past, cost increases due to stricter regulatory standards were passed directly on to consumers, who were captive customers with no choice of supplier.