Hoosiers Consider Windfarms; Community Relations Looks Like a Problem

Hands down, my favorite form of electricity production is going to get a shot at making power in Indiana.

The Indianappolis Star reports today that two California firms, Orion Energy LLC and enXco, Inc., are proposing wind farm projects in Benton County, northwest of Lafayette. (Benton County is highlighted in the Indiana map at right.) It is reportedly one of the two windiest areas of the state.

The other windy area is just northwest of Indianapolis.

The Star says a community-relations battle is brewing, which is to be expected but is unfortunate. Unnamed critics are reportedly concerned unsightly windmills, reduced property values, and a large number of bird kills.

Having driven through southern Alberta in Canada, I can say that prairie wind farms are attractive and hardly classify as visual blight. In fact, in my opinion, there's a certain appeal to them. I can think of a lot more developments that would lower property values.

[Cross posted to NIMBY Monitor.]