No. There is no documented evidence that wind energy
projects reduce the value of either the properties on which
turbines are located or other properties from which the turbines
can be seen. Click here to read Noble's fact sheet on windparks and property values.
The most recent study on the matter, "Impacts of Windmill Visibility on Property Values in Madison County, New York" was conducted in 2006. Click here to read a press release on the study.
Click here to read a similar study - “The Effect of Wind Development on Local Property Values” - done by the Renewable Energy Policy Project in 2003. This study found that “The statistical evidence does not support
a contention that property values within the view shed of wind
development suffer or perform poorer than in a comparable region… For
the great majority of the projects … the property values
in the view shed actually go up faster than values in the comparable
region.”
A nationwide survey of tax assessors in areas
with wind power projects found that the wind power projects
did not negatively impact property values. According to
this survey, the Town of Lincoln, Wisconsin reported:
 |
“One homeowner had claimed that the assessed value of his property should be reduced because of the wind turbines. The County asked him to show that the value of sales of properties near the turbines had diminished, and he was unable to do so.
“To investigate further the potential impacts on property values, Lincoln’s assessor compared the 2001 assessed value to actual sales … and found that the ratio of assessed values to actual sales prices for properties less than one mile from the wind turbines was no greater than for properties more than a mile from the wind turbines.”(ECONorthwest, “Economic Impacts of Wind Power in Kittitas County,” November 2002, 326 KB; www.catenergy.com/pdf%20files/Kittitas%20Wind%20final.pdf?mm=4) |
“Property values in Wilmington, Dover and
Whitingham have not decreased due to the wind turbines in Searsburg.
Any concerns about visual impacts never came to fruition. Property
values remain very high.” (Paul Kasinoff, Real Estate
Broker, Century 21 Carriage Realty of Dover, VT and Wilmington
Selectman; www.hoosacwind.com/qa.html)
See also:
General Accounting Office report entitled, “Wind
Power’s Contribution to Electric Power Generation and
Impact on Farms and Rural Communities”, September 2004,
2.68 MB; www.gao.gov/new.items/d04756.pdf
How will turbines affect property owners’ property taxes?
The installation of wind turbines can increase the assessed value of the property where they are located, but typical agreements with property owners provide that any property tax increases that are caused by the wind energy project will be paid by the wind power company.
Under typical agreements with property owners, the entire defense and the entire damages awarded would be paid by the wind power company. Furthermore, windparks are typically insured for liability claims, and a property owner named as an additional insured party.
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About easement contracts
The New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) Wind Energy Toolkit contains a broad range of information on wind power, including information about lease agreements.
Noble Environmental uses Easement Agreements, not Lease Agreements, but the information in the NYSERDA document should address most questions landowners may have. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly!
Click on the link to access NYSERDA's document Lease Agreements.
