User:Kittodk/Community wind energy

Impacts of community wind energy- Social
The Midwest and the Great Plains regions in the United States are ideal areas for community wind energy projects; they are also often prone to drought. Fossil fuel plants use large amounts of water for cooling purposes which is detrimental to communities' water supply if there is a drought. Wind turbines do not use any water since there is no considerable amount of heat produced during energy generation. Wind energy adds power to the electric grid which decreases the amount of oil needed to generate a community's electricity. Local land owners, who produce the wind energy, can also control the amount of energy produced, which expands the regional energy mix. Overall community wind energy reduces the local community's dependence on oil but, because of the subsidies involved, can greatly increase their costs for electricity.[citation needed]

'''Typically, the ideal form of a community wind energy project is created by and for local people. Community wind energy in a social scope can be seen as strong or weak based on how farms prioritize social motivations, what local benefits they produce, and how well they respond to local energy demand. The planning process for onshore community wind farms has low success rates. Difficulties arise from local government authorities' decisions on what counts as a representative community group, limiting community projects to more minor scales. Developing community wind energy faces barriers such as uncoordinated organizational structures, local authority decisions, and intricate planning requirements. Community-led projects demand substantial efforts and expertise, often comparable to commercial developments. Intermediaries like NGOs or private professionals help bridge relationships between local communities and big companies. Collaboration challenges arise because large companies require majority stakes in projects. Community wind projects are notable for receiving substantial support from local communities, distinguishing them from other energy projects that often face opposition. The positive reception is attributed to various factors, including the economic benefits community members enjoy. Involving residents as investors or shareholders in these projects has increased acceptance and public support. The flexibility of applications for community wind projects may play a role in garnering higher levels of support from residents. An example is Kiowa County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg, Kansas, which installed a second wind turbine. It shows the success and satisfaction that can come with community wind initiatives.'''

'''Community wind energy involves diverse activities such as electricity generation, heat generation, energy efficiency, collective purchasing, storage, transport, education, and awareness. There is a debated focus on understanding factors encouraging community participation. A sense of belonging to a place-based community is often noted as necessary for voluntary engagement in community renewable energy projects. Participation experiences and outcomes are not universally positive, and there are accessibility concerns that community wind energy may favor affluent communities.'''

'''Community wind projects can offer benefits in stabilizing energy prices for local communities. Due to the absence of fuel costs and relatively low operating expenses, the owners of these projects can accurately predict their energy costs over the project's lifetime. The projects can generate energy utilized locally or sold to local utilities through fixed-rate power purchase agreements, ensuring long-term stability in energy prices. This can be advantageous in regions where high electricity costs result from fuel imports, as community wind projects can help stabilize or even reduce energy expenses. Community wind projects find applications in many sectors, such as schools, hospitals, businesses, farms, ranches, and community facilities, providing a local source of electricity. Ownership of community wind projects can extend to rural electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, or groups of local individuals forming limited liability corporations. This ownership model allows local communities to participate actively and benefit from wind power initiatives.'''