4 ms·

That's good for now. I live in WI and the blowback is rising. I'm guessing one reason for that is because of the low population density there. Once they start c

That's good for now. I live in WI and the blowback is rising. I'm guessing one reason for that is because of the low population density there. Once they start creeping into more dense areas, or less dense but more ecologically sensitive areas, it could get interesting. Also MN is a pretty blue state. I seem to remember that as soon as you crossed the red SD line, the forest vanished. Maybe that will change, but it's definitely a potential headwind.

beat 8y ago
It's not so much red vs blue as state policy. Iowa has even more wind power than MN, and it's a lot more red. SD is definitely backwards in that regard. edit: Correcting myself, SD is getting 30% of its electricity from wind now. There's fewer towers because of a smaller population.
- chkaloon 8y ago
  So, it's a non issue? Nothing to worry about? https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/12/14/communities-fight-wind-farms-face-pushback https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/12/14/communities-fight... https://www.thelocal.fr/20180807/why-do-some-people-in-france-hate-wind-farms-so-much https://www.thelocal.fr/20180807/why-do-some-people-in-franc... https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/al-maiorino/just-how-widespread-is-wind-farm-opposition-20190312 https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/al-maiorino/just-how...
- bluGill 8y ago
  I think it is popular in Iowa because farmers see it as a source of income (thousands $$$/year each). Having just moved out of Iowa I can report that they are unpopular with town folks (population 300) who are near the turbines but don't get any rent from them. Hard to not like something when they are paying you a pretty penny. I think Wisconsin is just dense enough that a lot of people who don't have potential to get rent income have to look at them, while Iowa is just sparse enough that most people who see them get income from them.

beat 8y ago

It's not so much red vs blue as state policy. Iowa has even more wind power than MN, and it's a lot more red. SD is definitely backwards in that regard. edit: Correcting myself, SD is getting 30% of its electricity from wind now. There's fewer towers because of a smaller population.

chkaloon 8y ago
So, it's a non issue? Nothing to worry about? https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/12/14/communities-fight-wind-farms-face-pushback https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/12/14/communities-fight... https://www.thelocal.fr/20180807/why-do-some-people-in-france-hate-wind-farms-so-much https://www.thelocal.fr/20180807/why-do-some-people-in-franc... https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/al-maiorino/just-how-widespread-is-wind-farm-opposition-20190312 https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/al-maiorino/just-how...
bluGill 8y ago
I think it is popular in Iowa because farmers see it as a source of income (thousands $$$/year each). Having just moved out of Iowa I can report that they are unpopular with town folks (population 300) who are near the turbines but don't get any rent from them. Hard to not like something when they are paying you a pretty penny. I think Wisconsin is just dense enough that a lot of people who don't have potential to get rent income have to look at them, while Iowa is just sparse enough that most people who see them get income from them.