Wind farm development brings numerous economic benefits to the counties and local communities where the farms are located.
Among the perks are direct payments to landowners who host turbines and employment opportunities in the area during the construction and operation of a project. In some cases, operators may also provide payments to neighbors who are near development but do not host turbines, and some wind farms are developed by associations that distribute payments to members.
In addition, projects provide new tax revenue streams to rural communities, which help to pay for local emergency services and community and infrastructure improvements. This fact sheet provides a breakdown of taxes that are typically paid by developers and operators of wind energy projects in Minnesota.
