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GROUP DETAILS
Created: Feb 23, 2008
Updated: Nov 20, 2009
Membership: Open
Public
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About [Edit]
Windustry is a non-profit organization working to create an understanding of wind energy opportunities for rural economic benefit by providing technical support and creating tools for analysis. We address barriers to wind energy by building collaborations with rural landowners, local communities and utilities, as well as state, regional and non-profit organizations. Windustry's areas of special focus include: economic development from wind energy; landowner rights, risks, and benefits; and community-based wind energy.
Windustry has provided high quality wind energy information to varied audiences of farmers, rural landowners, elected officials, utility representatives, community planners, farm management educators, and bankers since the mid-1990s. Windustry was originally developed as a project of the non-profit Sustainable Resources Center based in Minneapolis, funded by the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources for two bienniums. In 1999 Windustry began a transition to broaden its scope and expand its target audience beyond the state of Minnesota. Windustry is now a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization partnered with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), another non-profit organization that promotes resilient family farms, rural communities and ecosystems around the world through research and education, science and technology, and advocacy.
Rural Economic Opportunities
The fast-paced expansion of the wind energy industry leads to new challenges daily and Windustry is committed to seeking solutions that benefit rural landowners and communities. Not only does wind energy provide clean, emissions-free, locally produced electricity, but it also creates economic development in the form of new jobs, new industry, new revenue through electricity sales, and associated growth and spending. Windustry seeks to promote wind energy in ways that help capitalize on these opportunities to diversify and revitalize rural economies.
Long term, sustainable growth of the wind industry depends on support and enthusiasm for wind development in windy regions. To this end, we believe that residents of these areas must be well informed about their options and have the opportunity to be full partners in this growing industry.
To help rural communities harness the economic potential of wind energy, Windustry works to develop information and tools for evaluating wind energy easement contracts, landowner options, and economic development impacts of wind energy. We also customize our outreach efforts for landowners, farm and agricultural organizations, local elected officials, economic development organizations, and rural utilities.
Community Wind
Wind power development comes in many shapes and sizes, but local or community ownership of wind turbines contributes most significantly to local economic development benefits. Essentially, Community Wind means that one or more members of the local community have a significant financial stake in the project. Examples of Community Wind projects include farmer owned wind turbines, school wind projects, municipal utility or rural electric cooperative wind installations, and tribal community wind projects. At Windustry, we encourage community wind projects by develop practical tools, information, and expertise to help communities and landowners evaluate the feasibility of a community wind project.
Windustry has provided high quality wind energy information to varied audiences of farmers, rural landowners, elected officials, utility representatives, community planners, farm management educators, and bankers since the mid-1990s. Windustry was originally developed as a project of the non-profit Sustainable Resources Center based in Minneapolis, funded by the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources for two bienniums. In 1999 Windustry began a transition to broaden its scope and expand its target audience beyond the state of Minnesota. Windustry is now a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization partnered with the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), another non-profit organization that promotes resilient family farms, rural communities and ecosystems around the world through research and education, science and technology, and advocacy.
Rural Economic Opportunities
The fast-paced expansion of the wind energy industry leads to new challenges daily and Windustry is committed to seeking solutions that benefit rural landowners and communities. Not only does wind energy provide clean, emissions-free, locally produced electricity, but it also creates economic development in the form of new jobs, new industry, new revenue through electricity sales, and associated growth and spending. Windustry seeks to promote wind energy in ways that help capitalize on these opportunities to diversify and revitalize rural economies.
Long term, sustainable growth of the wind industry depends on support and enthusiasm for wind development in windy regions. To this end, we believe that residents of these areas must be well informed about their options and have the opportunity to be full partners in this growing industry.
To help rural communities harness the economic potential of wind energy, Windustry works to develop information and tools for evaluating wind energy easement contracts, landowner options, and economic development impacts of wind energy. We also customize our outreach efforts for landowners, farm and agricultural organizations, local elected officials, economic development organizations, and rural utilities.
Community Wind
Wind power development comes in many shapes and sizes, but local or community ownership of wind turbines contributes most significantly to local economic development benefits. Essentially, Community Wind means that one or more members of the local community have a significant financial stake in the project. Examples of Community Wind projects include farmer owned wind turbines, school wind projects, municipal utility or rural electric cooperative wind installations, and tribal community wind projects. At Windustry, we encourage community wind projects by develop practical tools, information, and expertise to help communities and landowners evaluate the feasibility of a community wind project.
