A Complementary Development Model

In Europe, government regulations have internalized the energy and environmental benefits of wind energy by taxing electricity use heavily and, in turn, passing on the tax revenues in the form of incentives to wind energy producers. Consequently, individuals, local farmers and businesspeople have found it financially attractive to invest in small, local wind energy projects. A robust, sustained market for wind energy has emerged. With a stable market, manufacturers have chosen to establish local branches or manufacturing facilities to support the market, and many of the jobs stimulated by the market are in the local community. The majority of wind-produced electricity in Europe is now generated by single turbines or small clusters of wind turbines. The development pattern has come to be known as the "European Model."

Many wind energy advocates in the Great Plains recommended exploring the local benefits of the European Model. Interest in this model has spurred a flurry of studies, legislative measures, public forums and utility initiatives in cluster wind energy development in the Great Plains states. In addition, several utility-scale single turbines and clusters of turbines have been installed. These turbines have helped establish familiarity with smaller, dispersed wind energy projects.

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