Property Values

One of the most common things opponents of wind farms say is that they destroy property values of the homes and land located within or near wind projects. However, there is no peer-reviewed evidence that wind turbines lower property values in communities where wind farms exist.

To the contrary, a study conducted in 2013 by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory analyzed more than 50,000 home sales near 67 wind facilities in 27 counties across nine U.S. states. The study did not identify any negative impacts to nearby home property values.

https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2013/08/27/no-evidence-of-residential-property-value-impacts-near-u-s-wind-turbines-a-new-berkeley-lab-study-finds/

Peer-reviewed studies:

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) Studies, (2009, 2010, 2013, and 2014)

Nationwide

High-Level Findings: This study found no evidence of an effect on home prices in proximity to wind turbines. The 2013 study, conducted by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, used data collected from the sale of more than 50,000 homes in 27 counties, located in nine different states. The homes were within 10 miles of wind projects, with 1,198 sales within one mile, and 331 within half of a mile. This study also used data from before the announcement of a project; the post-announcement, pre-construction period; and the eventual operation of the project. Results were affirmed by similar studies done by the University of Rhode Island and the University of Connecticut in conjunction with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Full Study: https://emp.lbl.gov/sites/all/files/lbnl-6362e.pdf
Fact Sheet: https://www.cfra.org/sites/www.cfra.org/files/publications/PropertyValue-factsheet.pdf

National Survey of Attitudes of Wind Power Project Neighbors (2019)

High-Level Findings: Attitudes of residents within five miles of U.S. turbines are seven times more likely to be positive than negative. Those living within half a mile of a turbine are twice as likely to have positive attitudes.
Summary: https://emp.lbl.gov/sites/default/files/wind_neighbors_survey_summary_nov2019v5_final.pdf

Wichita State University (2019)

Kansas

High-Level Findings: This study strived to decipher and develop a better understanding of wind projects and their effect on rural properties in Kansas. The study’s data is based off of 23 wind projects in Kansas with operational dates ranging from 2005 to 2015. The properties and their values, which were appraised at the county level, have operational dates ranging from 2002 to 2018. The study and its results suggest that property values do not spike up or down once the project is completed. Rather, it was noted that they have a more “modest” growth, and that the three-year average for property value growth was 0.3 % after a project had been completed and operational.
Full Study: https://www.greaterhutch.com/media/userfiles/subsite_24/files/Wind%20Power%20Property%20Value%20Analysis.pdf

In fact, many communities actually see property values around wind farms INCREASE – which makes sense when you think about the additional millions of dollars in tax revenue those communities have as a result of the wind farm. This income reduces the tax burden on home- and landowners and helps strengthen local services like schools, roads, and public safety. All of these things help make these communities more desirable places to live.

According to the Energy and Policy Institute, “Studies find properties that host wind farms are worth more after turbines are installed. Nearby properties are unaffected…Ten major studies in three countries of 1.3 million property transactions over 18 years of data have found no connection between wind farms and property values. Yet the fear of property value loss persists and is exploited by anti-wind campaigning groups in their attempts to turn local populaces against wind developments.”

https://www.energyandpolicy.org/wind-energy-does-not-hurt-property-values/