Does wind energy cost more than other sources of electricity?

No.  When evaluating the costs of various forms of electrical generation, it's important to compare the costs of electricity from newly-constructed facilities.  It's also important to consider the any "hidden" costs associated with environmental or health impacts, as well as the length of time needed to build the new generation source. 

• Building new windparks costs the same or less than building new generation sources that rely on fossil or nuclear fuel. 
• Wind energy is pollution-free, so it doesn't have hidden environmental or health costs. 
• The price of wind isn't affected by volatile fuel prices, so wind energy can help to stabilize electricity prices. 
• Windparks can be developed relatively quickly, bringing much-needed additional supply online sooner than other generation sources. 

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Does wind energy receive government subsidies?

Yes.  All forms of electrical generation receive some forms of subsidy.  Wind energy receives far less subsidization than any other commercial-scale energy source.  Click on the image to read a fact sheet on wind energy subsidies from the American Wind Energy Association.

The primary federal subsidy for wind energy is the Federal Production Tax Credit (PTC).  The PTC helps to level the playing field between wind energy and other sources of energy, virtually all of which are highly-subsidized.  Click on the image to read a fact sheet on the PTC from the American Wind Energy Association.

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