Wind farms

Isn’t it incredible that the same breeze that cools you off on a hot day could power the nation? The U.S. Department of Energy projects that wind energy could provide enough electricity to meet the needs of our country. Beyond that, a 2005 Stanford University study suggests that there is enough wind power worldwide to satisfy global demand seven times over—even if only 20 percent of wind power could be harnessed.

Wind power, also known as wind energy, is renewable, clean and offers price stability. This abundant natural resource is captured through wind farms, groupings of tall, quietly spinning wind turbines used for the production of electric power.

A large wind farm includes anywhere from a dozen to over 100 wind turbines spread out over hundreds to thousands of acres. On a wind farm, the kinetic energy of the wind is transformed into mechanical energy in the turbine and creates the electrical energy we can use. The wind turbines are interconnected with a power-collection system that sends electricity via transmission lines to the larger utility grid and on to thousands of homes.

Sustainability in action

Taxes paid to a community from a wind-farm development can have a significant impact.  For example, the tax revenue can be allocated toward investments in local services that can stabilize local tax rates. Considering that, and the fact wind farms consume no fuel to operate and have no carbon emissions, you start to understand why it’s so important for us to harness the wind’s energy on a large-scale basis.

Wind projects are being built throughout North America and Canada with a concentration in the Midwest and coastal regions where wind resources are plentiful. These wind farms bring hundreds of short-term and permanent jobs to communities and can help lower property taxes and provide revenue. ACCIONA’s wind farms, for example, always co-exist with the land use, allowing landowners to continue to raise crops and livestock right up to the base of the turbines. We also develop responsibly by investing time and resources into environmental studies before planning and building a wind project, minimizing negative impacts to the environment.

Furthermore, by adding wind to the energy mix, North America can reduce its dependence on foreign oil by more than one-third and help to stabilize energy costs. Wind energy offers more price certainty when compared to energy from fossil fuels because the primary cost is in the initial construction of the wind farm. The wind resource is renewable and free. ACCIONA’s research continues to lower the cost of wind development, further dropping the price of wind energy for North American energy consumers.

ACCIONA's commitment

ACCIONA has provided the world with wind energy for nearly 20 years through the manufacturing, development, construction and operation of wind farms like Tatanka Wind Farm. Spanning the borders of North and South Dakota, on the Coteau des Prairies Ridge, this wind farm has the capacity to power more than 60,000 American homes.

In addition to wind farms on the Great Plains of the United States, ACCIONA is developing wind projects in the Canadian Maritimes and has wind farms in upper Ontario and Alberta, Canada. ACCIONA is also developing wind projects in the upper Midwest, on both coasts and in the Great Lakes region.

ACCIONA has a long-term interest in its wind farms because after construction is complete, we operate and maintain the wind farm through the life of the project. We are confident that the relationships we build today with landowners, communities and other partners will be productive for years to come.