WITH WIND, A WINDFALL

USU study: Wind power could mean huge $$$
October 13, 2009 (Utah State University Media Relations)

"A newly-released Utah State University-U.S. Department of Energy study estimates that a modest 50-megawatt wind power development in Summit County, Utah, could generate more than $31 million in economic output to the state of Utah during its construction. It could support 51 onsite construction jobs with a total payroll of almost $3 million, the study concludes…

"During its first year of operation, a 50-megawatt wind power plant could generate about $150,000 in land lease payments to Summit County landowners. It could also generate more than $800,000 in local property taxes for Summit County, of which more than $631,000 would support the South Summit School District, the study concludes."

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…"Analysis of State-Level Economic Impacts from the Development of Wind Power Plants in Summit County, Utah… examines the economic impacts of several scenarios of wind-project installations, ranging in size from 25 megawatts to 130 megawatts, for the Porcupine Ridge area of Summit County. The Utah State Energy Program’s anemometer loan program has identified the Porcupine Ridge site as having wind resources sufficient for large commercial development."

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"The economic impacts were estimated using the Job and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) model developed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo. [Cathy Hartman,] David Ratliff…and Edwin Stafford…were co-authors of the study…

"Utah’s first wind farm opened at the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon in the summer of 2008. That successful project overcame numerous policy, locational considerations and market obstacles to pave the way for more wind development throughout the state…[A] 203.5-megawatt wind project is expected to open by year’s end near Milford…in southern Utah…"