Siting Wind Projects

Siting wind farms and windmills has become one of the major hurdles related to wind farm development in a number of communities.

Before a small or large wind turbine is installed people want to know a number of details such as why here, what will it look like and what is it going to do to my area.

Below is a siting lesson based on a scenario in Massachusetts. If you do not live near the Northeast and would like to collect similar data close to home check the links further below. The lesson plan will still apply you might have to change a few details and prepare your own maps.

 Siting a Wind Farm (PDF) - 0.5 MB

 Maps/Graphs & Lessons Supporting Documents (PDF) - 13 MB

Helpful Links/Materials for this Lesson

Wind Maps

Topzone.com

Google Maps

Microsoft Terraserver

Promoting/Researching Wind Farm Development

Please keep in mind that sites below promoting and questioning wind farm development have an agenda. Read both side of the issue and then try to figure out who you believe. Some of the data on these site can be misleading or incorrect.

http://www.windustry.com/

http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/

http://windeis.anl.gov/guide/index.cfm

http://www.ceere.org/rerl/

Questioning Wind Farm Development

http://www.wind-watch.org/

http://www.protecttheflinthills.org/

http://www.wvmcre.org/

http://www.vawind.org

Wind Farm Developers

http://www.noblepower.com/

http://www.windpower.com/

http://www.horizonwind.com/

http://www.globalwinds.com/