Small and community-owned renewable electricity generation projects—those owned by local individuals and businesses—provide substantial economic benefits for local communities. According to Windustry, community-owned wind

• boosts rural communities by generating new income for farmers and landowners,
• stimulates local and state economies by providing high-quality and local jobs and keeping energy dollars in the local economy, and
• strengthens personal responsibility by connecting people to the source of their electricity.

Additionally, “Economic Development Impacts of Community Wind Projects,” a study from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, found that community projects have more local economic benefits than conventional wind energy projects.

There can be a big problem with locally-owned projects, however: they can have a hard time attracting financing. But Senator Al Franken (Minnesota – D) and Senator Jon Tester (Montana – D) are trying to fix the imbalance with S. 1741, the Community Wind Act.

The Community Wind Act would expand the federal investment tax credit for small, community-wind development projects—up to 20 megawatts—for the next five years. Previously, the tax credit only applied to projects with capacities of up to 100 kilowatts. The tax credit provides a credit of up to 30 percent of the cost of the project, allowing project owners better access to financing for the remainder of the costs.

“Locally-owned wind projects are an important part of our nation’s energy future and they’re a great investment for rural communities in Minnesota because their profits go right back to farmers and members of rural communities,” said Senator Franken in a press release. “Unfortunately, these projects often have difficulty getting financing. This legislation would make it easier for community wind projects to get up and running and help communities all over Minnesota and all over the country invest in the future.”

Urge your U.S. senators to support the Community Wind Act.

Community-owned renewable electricity generation projects, the kind owned by local individuals and businesses, provide communities substantial economic benefits. But sometimes it's hard to get financing for small projects. That's where the Community Wind Act comes in.