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 Both wind and solar energy
projects have positive economic impacts on communities because of
property tax revenue and payments to landowners.
The past several years brought a rapid growth of wind farms around
Illinois, and Logan County is no exception. But it is important to
continue to examine their impacts.
The Rail Splitter Wind Farm in northern Logan County has been
operating since September 2000.
Statistics from late 2016 show that the Rail Splitter made a capital
investment of approximately $221 million, $6.1 M in cumulative
payments to local governments, and approximately $48.8 M had been
spent within 50 miles of the wind farm through 2016.
Swift Current Energy, which hopes to start construction on the
HillTopper Wind Farm project near Mount Pulaski soon, says it will
bring in more revenue to the county and the school district. At
public hearings last May, Swift Current Energy’s Matt Birchby said,
“The $300 M HillTopper Wind Farm project cost has been funded by
private dollars and will receive tax credits when operational. The
average property tax payment the project will be making annually is
$1.5 million.” The tax revenue will also help support the school
district.
The site for the upcoming Sugar Creek Wind Farm project does not
provide exact amounts, but says, “The project is expected to inject
millions of dollars into Logan County’s economy to support local
merchants, contractors, and equipment suppliers.”
The placement of a turbine requires about one-and-a-half acres.
There is also a slight loss for access roads and temporary reduction
in production due to compaction and drier soils close to the large
deep concrete base necessary for each turbine. Yet, agricultural
operations can continue in the surrounding area.
Using the above figure, the estimated losses of acreage would be
100.5 acres for Rail Splitter’s 67 turbines, a projected 115.5 acres
for Sugar Creek’s 77 turbines, and a projected figure of 111 acres
for HillTopper’s 74 turbines.
Terminologies such as ‘farming wind power’ ‘harvesting the sun’s
energy’ and other verbiage spins have been introduced in recent
years to persuade public opinion at weighing land use; whether to
continue as agricultural use or if it is better used for renewable
energy production.
Value to the farmer/land owner
Landowners are compensated for the use of land. Birchby has said,
“Over the project life, the total payment to participating
landowners will be around $25 M, and for non-participating
landowners payments will be around $4 M.”
Value in clean energy production
Energy converted by the three wind farms would produce up to 500
megawatts electricity, enough to power 175,000 homes.
Expanded employment
The above wind farm projects provide hundreds of temporary
construction jobs and approximately a combined 25 full-time jobs
once in operational phase.
These figures pose some strong positive impacts, but potentially
negative impacts need to be considered. One possible downside is
that taxpayers may bear the burden of subsidies.
Additionally, there has been debate over whether wind resource
development is the most profitable use of the land.
The United States’ Department
of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy says,
“The cost-competitiveness of wind power is highly debatable. Both
utility-scale wind farms and small residential wind turbines
typically rely heavily on financial incentives. This is to give wind
power a fair chance in the fierce competition against already
well-established energy sources such as fossil fuels and coal.”
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The impact on farmland has been debated.
Though some studies claim turbines get more carbon dioxide to crops,
others claim it may damage crops and lower crop yields. In addition,
the placement of turbines may cause soil compaction.
To offset possible negative impacts, companies constructing the wind
farms now must sign Agricultural Impact Mitigation Agreement
agreeing to take care of any damages to drainage tiles or crops.
Farm owner Cheryl Baker says the income from the towers more than
make up for the lost farm income.
Solar farms have also gained popularity in the Midwest as a
renewable energy source in recent years and appear to generate less
controversy than wind farms. With at least two acres needed for the
panels, they take more acreage out of production, though
agricultural production can continue around them. It is easier to
return the land to its original condition after the solar farm has
been decommissioned and the panels removed.
The Union of Concerned Scientists says, "Solar energy can be used in
agriculture in a number of ways, saving money, increasing
self-reliance, and reducing pollution. Solar energy can cut a farm's
electricity and heating bills. Solar heat collectors can be used to
dry crops and warm homes, livestock buildings, and greenhouse.”
Locally, small panels are being utilized to operate remote electric
gates, fences, drainage tile shut-off valves, surveillance cameras,
water trough heaters, well pumps, lighting and more.
Solar tax credits and rebates provide an economic incentive. Solar
power is also touted as bringing energy savings by reducing electric
bills, claiming it will save about ten percent on energy costs.
The Logan County Board’s Airport and Farm Committee has been in
discussion with IPS Solar about renting 18 acres at the airport for
a solar array. As part of an incentive package, the county would
receive discounted electricity.
The Logan County Board Planning and Zoning Committee is working on a
solar ordinance with certain conditions that will have to be met.
Both wind and solar have potential as energy sources, but it is
important to consider the impacts to agriculture.
[Angela Reiners / with
contributions by Jan Youngquist]
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