Clean energy offers a significant opportunity to diversify the rural economy while generating cheap, renewable power for rural homes and businesses.
Wind, solar, and other renewable energy projects help revitalize rural communities by taking advantage of their rich energy resources. New tax revenue from these projects help shore up local infrastructure, like schools and emergency services, while reducing the local tax burden on rural people. Meanwhile, farmers and landowners receive land-lease payments from project developers in an unpredictable farm economy. In addition, new jobs are created by the increased demand for local manufacturing and project operators.
To maximize the impact of clean energy development, a critical need arises for new and upgraded transmission capacity to carry renewable energy generated across wide geographic areas to consumers. Investing in transmission infrastructure creates new access to clean energy and allows rural economies in the Midwest and Great Plains to unlock their clean energy potential.
We aim to assist landowners and other rural stakeholders to ensure that clean energy transmission is built in an equitable, sustainable way—a way that works best for rural citizens and their communities.
Below you'll find links to resources the Center has created that address specific issues related to clean energy and an interactive map highlighting clean energy work in rural communities.
Wind, solar, and transmission siting library
To assist stakeholders in conversations about the siting and development of renewables and electric transmission, the Center has created resources that address specific issues often raised during the development process.
Find those resources in our siting library.
Energy efficiency
Fact sheets
Energy Efficiency Offers Savings for Nebraskans
La Eficiencia Energética Ofrece Ahorros Para Residentes Nebraska
Energy Efficiency Offers Savings for Iowans
La Eficiencia Energética Ofrece Ahorros Para Residentes de Iowa
Energy Efficiency Offers Savings for Minnesotans
La Eficiencia Energética Ofrece Ahorros Para Residentes de Minnesota
Energy Efficiency Offers Savings for South Dakotans
La Eficiencia Energética Ofrece Ahorros Para los Habitantes de South Dakota
Tax revenue and other economic benefits
Fact sheets
Minnesota Wind Energy Tax Revenue
Minnesota Solar Energy Tax Revenue
Renewable Energy and You: Community Benefits
Renewable Energy and You: Declining Cost
South Dakota solar energy tax revenue
Nebraska Nameplate Capacity Tax
North Dakota Wind Energy Tax Revenue
South Dakota Wind Energy Tax Revenue
Iowa Wind Energy Tax Revenue
Nebraska Wind Energy Tax Revenue
White papers, reports
Industry on the Prairie: Minnesota Wind Energy Production Tax Impact Studies
Resource guide: Taxing Utility-Scale Solar Projects in Iowa
Powering Iowa: Rural Perspectives on Iowa's Renewable Energy Transformation
Report Recap: Powering Iowa
Generation and Delivery: The Economic Impact of Transmission Infrastructure in Rural Counties
Powering Iowa: Rural Perspectives on Iowa's Renewable Energy Transformation
Report Recap: Powering Iowa
Generation and Delivery: The Economic Impact of Transmission Infrastructure in Rural Counties
Nebraska resources
Fact sheets
Nebraskans have opportunity in untapped solar potential
Fact Sheet: Native Vegetation and Solar Projects in Nebraska
Nebraska Wind Energy Tax Revenue
White papers, reports
Review of Wind Energy Setbacks: Commonalities and Differences Among Three States
Nebraska Solar Siting Guide: A Roadmap for Counties
Exploring Siting Guidance: Agriculture Siting Matrices Inform Renewable Energy Siting
Webinars, blogs, other resources
Solar Energy in Nebraska
New resource assists homeowners with solar energy decisions
Solar energy benefits Nebraska
Community solar delivering benefits to Nebraskans
Iowa resources
Fact sheets
Solar industry poised for growth in Iowa
Native Vegetation and Solar Projects in Iowa
Iowa Wind Energy Tax Revenue
White papers, reports
Review of Wind Energy Setbacks: Commonalities and Differences Among Three States
Windswept Fields of Opportunity: Iowa Wind Energy County Tax Impact Studies
Resource guide: Taxing Utility-Scale Solar Projects in Iowa
Iowa Solar Siting Resource Guide
Exploring Siting Guidance: Agriculture Siting Matrices Inform Renewable Energy Siting
Blogs
Minnesota resources
Fact sheets
White papers, reports
Industry on the Prairie: Minnesota Wind Energy Production Tax Impact Studies
Blogs
Minnesota sets framework to accelerate renewable energy transition
Solar advocate says Tribes can lead the way on clean energySolar advocate says Tribes can lead the way on clean energy
Transmission congestion is costing rural communities
Bright future: Solar investments offer major cost savings for Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
South Dakota resources
Fact sheets
Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE)
Sunshine without net metering
Energy Efficiency Offers Savings for South Dakotans
La Eficiencia Energética Ofrece Ahorros Para los Habitantes de South Dakota
South Dakota solar energy tax revenue
Native Vegetation and Solar Projects in South Dakota
Solar energy presents opportunity for South Dakota
White papers, reports
Review of Wind Energy Setbacks: Commonalities and Differences Among Three States
Blogs
A new era of renewable production in South Dakota
Thunder Valley uses renewable energy to build community resilience