Wind turbines dot Iowa's landscape, fueling a strong economy, multimillion-dollar industry [View All]

Wind turbines dot Iowa's landscape, fueling a strong economy, multimillion-dollar industry

Mike Wiser | Posted: Sunday, November 20, 2011 12:00 am

…

Thirty years ago, Iowa’s wind industry was little more than a smattering of windmills dotting the rural landscape. Now, propelled by advances in technology, government support, the instability of the foreign energy market and the cachet of clean, renewable energy, it’s a multimillion-dollar behemoth.

It supports more than 3,000 Iowa jobs worth a combined payroll upwards of $70 million a year, according to association figures, and landowners make roughly $12.6 million a year in lease payments hosting turbines on their land. Currently, the state’s 2,800 wind turbines can pump out 4,375 megawatts at maximum capacity — second in the nation behind Texas’ 10,000 megawatts and ahead of California’s 3,100 — with a goal to increase that capacity to 20,000 megawatts by 2030.

“The story in Iowa can be held up as a great case study on how to do it right,” said Elizabeth Salerno, director of data and analysis for the AWEA. The association is the premier wind power advocacy group in the nation, having raised more than $32.8 million in 2009 and $22.5 million in 2008 to support its lobbying efforts, according to tax records.

…

“Iowa started early and it has great wind resources,” she said. “It has available land, and farmers see having a turbine as just having a different type of crop. Fourth, Iowa has taken a lead in attracting companies that manufacture components.”

…