Community Wind Energy

Community wind includes both small-scale distributed wind and larger-scale applications where electricity is sold over the transmission grid. The distinguishing feature of a community wind project is that one or more local community members receive the majority of the economic benefits of the project, beyond land lease payments.

Historically, community wind projects have been utilized to supply local electricity for a variety of applications, including schools, hospitals, businesses, farms, ranches, or community facilities. Rural electric cooperatives or municipal utilities have also developed their own community wind projects to diversify electricity supplies. Community wind owners may also be local individuals who form independent power producer groups or limited liability corporations to sell the power the turbines produce to a local electricity supplier.

More Information on Community Wind Energy

Learn more about community distributed wind using these resources.

Small Community Wind Handbook

This handbook was designed to provide guidance for the siting and development activities required to develop a wind project in a small community.

Large Community Wind Handbook

This handbook was designed to provide guidance for the siting and development activities required to develop a wind project in a large community.

How Can Our Community Get Wind Power?

Learn how your community can own, partner with, host, and support wind power.

Maps & Data