Many see renewable energy as the way of the future. There have been several large scale solar energy projects advancing across the state as well as the first wind farm in 6 years, the Red Barn Wind Park in Grant County, going live. Does this mean Wisconsin is going all in on the development of renewable energy?
Matt Boor, a consultant for wind energy companies, says that there is good potential for Wisconsin’s wind future. Boor says that Wisconsin “does have some good resources, especially along the Niagara Escarpment” which runs along the eastern shore of Lake Winnebago. Locations where there is a change in elevation are typically good places for wind farms.
The technology has also dramatically improved in the last decade, so much so that specialists can measure wind speed and analyze microclimates to determine where an ideal location for a wind farm would be. Retrieving and analyzing this data is essential for wind developers to best harness the energy potential of wind.
Wind turbines are predominantly located on agricultural land. Boor shared that the benefits for farmers to have turbines on their land includes payments that are typically around $20,000 a year, the ability to continue working most of the land around the turbine and the service road leading up to it, as well as benefits to the local economy from the construction.
When asked about the future of wind energy in Wisconsin, Boor said, “there is definitely an opportunity for wind energy to have some good wins and be a good partner to a lot of people in Wisconsin.”
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