Frequently Asked Questions
How is my property value affected?
In August of 2013, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory published a study regarding wind turbines and home values. Researchers “analyzed more than 50,000 home sales near 67 wind facilities in 27 counties across nine U.S. states, yet were unable to uncover any impacts to nearby home property values.”
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory conducted a second study in 2016 focused on property value effects from proximity to wind turbines in more dense and urban areas, looking at Massachusetts as a case study. Again, no statistical evidence suggested that operating or planned wind projects affected home values.
How does this affect farming and ranching?
Each wind turbine site typically utilizes less than one acre of land. The project provides dependable, steady income for farmers, which helps them preserve and protect their prime, valuable farmland for future generations. Additionally, Invenergy will pay for crop damages that may be caused by construction or operation of the wind farm.
Invenergy has worked with aerial application operations across the country to minimize impacts from wind farms on their operations and is committed to doing the same at Pony Express. Aerial application continues across currently operational Invenergy wind projects.
Noise
Like many things that move, wind turbines are quiet but not silent. They produce sound, both from the rotation of the blades through the air and from the operation of the generator itself. That sound is loudest at the turbine and rapidly dissipates as distance from the turbine grows. Sound levels are affected by a wide variety of factors and can be more audible or less audible depending on weather conditions, other sources of sound like appliances, roads, grain dryers, the sound of the wind itself moving through trees and crops, among many other things. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) reported that “No clear or consistent association is seen between noise from wind turbines and any reported disease or other indicator of harm to human health.”
Infrasound
Wind turbines do produce a small amount of low frequency sound that is comparable to a household refrigerator. Several studies have concluded there is no direct causation on adverse health impacts from wind turbine generated noise. View full reports of the studies below:
Health
Numerous studies have shown that wind turbines do not have a negative impact on human health.
Land
The low density of land use for a typical wind farm means that important municipal and emergency services can still operate, and Invenergy is committed to coordinating with the proper stakeholders to ensure public safety is not compromised. Emergency response plans and training protocols will be put in place prior to construction.
Setbacks
A setback defines the minimum distance a wind turbine can be sited from homes, property lines, roads and other structures. Invenergy is committed to developing agreements with both Brown and Nemaha counties to establish fair and reasonable setbacks at the Pony Express project.
How are my rates impacted?
According to an American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), American wind power saves consumers money. Adding wind energy to the generation mix reduces electricity prices, helps protect against future price shocks, and makes the energy market more competitive.