| The
windmill, much as the farmhouse or barn, is a signature of the
traditional rural landscape. Wind was a prime farm energy source
before rural electrification and gasoline-powered water pumps.
Now, in addition to offsetting on-site energy use, wind is providing
vital support for rural communities, this time as a generator of
electricity for sale to energy-hungry cities and industries.
Since the Northwest's first large-scale wind farm began operations
in 1998, more than 500 megawatts of wind power capacity have
come online in Washington and Oregon. Another 3.9 gigawatts of
power, enough to power roughly a million homes, is already under
development in the region.
Assess Your Wind Resource
Tapping wind power is a little like drilling for oil. It’s
generally acknowledged where the resource is, but finding it at
reasonable cost
requires precise knowledge of the terrain. Visit the Northwestern
Wind Mapping Project to see if
your wind resources warrant further exploration.
Options for Development
Northwest
utilities, rural communities, and farmers are exploring many different
ownership models for wind power development. While most
wind farms are developed and owned by private firms, around the country
public utilities, municipalities, even school districts are owning
and operating wind farms, and retaining much more of wind’s value
in the local economy.
Rural landowners are also putting wind to work for on-farm uses with
small-scale turbines. One nonprofit group, Our
Wind Cooperative, is working directly with landowners,
urban consumers, investors and wind turbine dealers to install small
wind
systems on farms, ranches
and rural facilities throughout the region.
Learn more...
 Hosting
a Wind Farm
On-Farm
Wind Power
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