Wind Farms

We’ve been commenting on the strong winds that occur here on the Montana Hi-Line. Those strong winds can be both a curse and a blessing. The blessing is in the energy generated by the wind farm you see on the right. The energy produced by these wind turbines is channeled downward into electrical ground cables that allow for transfer into the energy grid.

Wind farms are common sights these days as our nation shifts more and more toward renewable energy. This wind farm is now almost ten years old and is one of the largest in the state of Montana. Its 140 turbines generate enough electric power to supply 25,000 homes. Electricity generated by the Glacier Wind Farm is transmitted by the western US power grid to renewable energy customers as far away as San Diego, California. Montana's wind farms generate millions of dollars in taxes that benefit the state and counties. Additionally, land lease payments benefit landowners, and maintaining the turbines creates stable local job opportunities, which helps stabilize the local economy.

Wind farm. (n.d.). Enel Green Power. https://www.enelgreenpower.com/learning-hub/renewable-energies/wind-energy/wind-farm