Welcome to the topical issues page of the NEA Web site. Here you’ll find a brief review of changing economic factors, industry trends, and hot topics that affect your business or industry from an economics perspective.
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Benefits of Wind Power DevelopmentInterest in wind power development is growing as a means of expanding local economies. Such development holds promise as a provider of short-term employment during facility construction and long-term employment from ongoing facility operation and maintenance (O&M). It may also add to the supply of electric power in the area and support some expansion of the local economy through ripple effects resulting from initial increases in jobs and income.
While there is a growing body of information about the local impacts of wind power, the economic impacts from existing wind power developments have not been thoroughly and consistently analyzed. Northwest Economic Associates (NEA), under contract to the National Wind Coordinating Committee (NWCC), conducted a study and released the report, “Assessing the Economic Development Impacts of Wind Power.” The primary objective of the study was to provide examples of appropriate analyses and documentation of economic impacts from wind power development, using case studies of three existing projects in the United States.
The methodology used for that study is summarized in a fact sheet in order to provide guidance for future studies of the economic impacts of other wind power developments. The findings from the case studies are summarized in a separate fact sheet. Both fact sheets and the more detailed study report are available from NEA (send inquiry to nea@nwecon.com), or at NWCC’s website http://www.nationalwind.org/.
