Wind Rush

Wind turbines on vast ranches and fields of corn, soy and wheat have transformed US farmers into energy producers. Eight large turbines in one Iowa community produce 12.8 megawatts, enough to power 6,000 Iowa homes, and “generate healthy annual returns of up to 16 percent on the $12,000 to $50,000 individual investments from 180 local farmers,” reports Edward Humes for Sierra. “At four cents a kilowatt-hour, that's some of the cheapest electricity in the country, costing less than half of last year's national average for all electricity sources, coal and gas included.” More than 20 percent of Iowa’s electricity relies on wind power. The industry – with no fuel costs, but high construction and maintenance costs – is also a job creator for turbine technicians. The US, with wind accounting for 3 percent of its electricity generation, is second only to China. When government subsidies are stripped away, wind power is now the least expensive source of energy. – YaleGlobal