Benefits of Wind Power
Wind power can help further development of Adams Township and Cambria County by bringing economic, environmental and political benefits to the county and its residents. The benefits of wind are many:
Economic
- According the Union of Concerned Scientists, for every megawatt (MW) of wind energy produced $370,000 is generated in the form of tax revenues, lease payments, and capital investment. This figure does not included additional revenue generated from planning, development, and construction that could bring that figure closer to $1 million.
- The Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that farmers or ranchers with good wind resources can increase the economic yield of their land by 30 to 100 percent.
- A study by NYSERDA estimates that wind energy produced 27 percent more jobs per kilowatt-hour than coal plants and 66 percent more jobs than natural gas.
- The Renewable Energy Policy Project estimates that every megawatt of installed wind capacity creates about 4.8 job-years of employment. For the proposed 62.5 MW Highland Wind Project, this would mean a potential of more than 280 job-years of employment. These figures include both direct and indirect employment.
- There also is indirect benefit from the economic stimulus. The paychecks generated by the new jobs and additional income are spent on local goods and services, boosting the local economy and creating additional jobs.
Environmental and Health
- Although wind turbines do not necessarily take fossil fuel plants out of service directly, a watt of electricity produced by a utility-scale wind turbine IS a watt not produced by a natural gas or coal plant. During its 20+ year lifetime, a single 1.65 MW turbine can prevent the emission of 2,700 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2 - global climate change), 14 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2 - acid rain) and 9 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOX - smog).
- In order to absorb the same amount of CO2 saved by a 1.65 MW wind turbine, a 1,000 acre forest would be needed. A wind turbine needs an area of just 2-3 acres, the majority of which can still be used for farming, ranching and other purposes.
- Air pollution lowers crop yields - to the tune of tens of billions of dollar per year in the US alone - and wind power can help reduce air pollution by displacing power produced from fossil sources.
- Wildlife and bird species coexist with wind energy projects much better than they coexist with any other form of traditional energy production.
- Cleaner air simply means healthier air, especially for people with respiratory disabilities.
Energy Independence
- Wind energy costs for consumers are low and stable. This is particularly beneficial for all power consumers when oil and gas prices are rising and volatile.
- A wind project in Cambria County will give consumers across the state greater access to cleaner, more efficient, renewable sources of energy.