AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation released the paper “The Texas Wind Power Story: Part 2 – The Impacts of Texas Wind Power Siting,” which examines the effect of subsidized wind farms on nearby inhabitants and the environment.
“Wind farms affect residents, the environment, and anyone using the land and airspace between turbines,” said Lisa Linowes, the author of the paper and a senior fellow at TPPF. “Noise, shadow flicker, safety setback distances, aesthetics and property value issues complicate the narrative that wind energy is inherently good.”
Some concerns outlined in the paper include the disturbance to people living near wind farms and what happens to these large structures when no longer in use.
“Policymakers need to consider the concerns of those living near wind projects, not serve an abstracted idea that it is good for the planet and therefore good for every location,” said Cutter González, policy analyst at TPPF. “The issue isn’t as simple as renewables are good, traditional fuels are bad.”
The state of Texas took an important first step in reducing the harm of renewable subsidies in 2017 with the passage of SB 277 which rolls back wind subsidies and eliminates Chapters 312 and 313 tax benefits for wind farms sited within 25 nautical miles of a military installation with flight operations.
To view or download the report, click here:
For more information or to request an interview, please contact Alicia Pierce at [email protected] or 512-472-2700.
Lisa Linowes is a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and serves as the executive director and spokesperson for The WindAction Group founded in 2006.
Cutter W. González is a policy analyst and energy project manager at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit free-market research institute based in Austin that aims to foster human flourishing by protecting and promoting liberty, opportunity, and personal responsibility.
Primary website: www.TexasPolicy.com
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