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.
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. Please contact [email protected] if you need more information.
Wind, solar, battery storage, 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
Si bien la electricidad es esencial para los hogares y negocios en los EE. UU., el costo del servicio puede representar una carga para los clientes. Una estrategia clave para limitar esta carga es...
While access to electricity is essential for homes and businesses across the U.S., the cost of service can pose a burden to customers. One key strategy to limit this burden is to implement efficiency...
Si bien el acceso a la electricidad es esencial para los hogares y las empresas en los EE. UU., el costo del servicio puede representar una carga para los clientes. Una estrategia clave para limitar...
While access to electricity is essential for homes and businesses across the U.S., the cost of service can pose a burden to customers. One key strategy to limit this burden is to implement efficiency...
Si bien la electricidad es esencial para los hogares y negocios en los EE. UU., el costo del servicio puede representar una carga para los clientes. Una estrategia clave para limitar esta carga es...
While access to electricity is essential for homes and businesses across the U.S., the cost of service can pose a burden to customers. One key strategy to limit this burden is to implement efficiency...
Si bien el acceso a la electricidad es esencial para los hogares y las empresas en los EE. UU., el costo del servicio puede representar una carga para los clientes. Una estrategia clave para limitar...
While electricity is essential for homes and businesses across the U.S., the cost of service can pose a burden to customers. One key strategy to limit this burden is to implement efficiency measures...
Tax revenue and other economic benefits
Fact Sheets
Iowa has been a national leader in wind energy, and each installment has brought numerous economic benefits to the communities where projects are located. These benefits include direct payments to...
Iowa is second in the nation for total wind energy production, which provides significant opportunities for economic development in rural counties. Adair County hosts more than 500 turbines, or 8% of...
Renewable energy offers economic benefits to rural areas and counties where projects are typically located. Notable benefits include direct payments to landowners that establish a new, steady source...
Wind farm development brings numerous economic benefits to the counties and local communities where they are located. Among the perks are direct payments to landowners who host turbines, and...
Renewable energy has provided several benefits for rural communities and counties across Nebraska. In addition to producing clean, low-cost renewable energy, these projects create new employment...
Solar energy development brings numerous economic benefits to the counties and local communities in which it occurs. This includes direct payments to landowners who host solar arrays and new...
Wind farm development brings numerous economic benefits to the counties and local communities where the farms are located. Among the perks are direct payments to landowners who host turbines and...
Wind energy was introduced to Iowa in the early 2000s and has been a feature of the landscape since. In 2021, the state was the second largest producer of wind energy and led the nation in net...
The renewable energy landscape is changing. Wind turbine and solar panel technology has improved dramatically over the past several decades and is now producing a significant proportion of our energy...
Nebraska has great renewable energy potential. As this capability is capitalized upon, rural communities experience numerous benefits from wind, solar, storage, and electric transmission development...
Wind farm development brings numerous economic benefits to the counties and local communities where the wind farms are located. Among the perks are direct payments to landowners who host turbines, as...
Wind farm development brings numerous economic benefits to the counties and local communities where they’re located. Among the perks are direct payments to landowners who host turbines, and employment...
Development of transmission lines, wind, and solar energy has the potential to be a huge economic opportunity for rural communities in Iowa. With the implementation of any new infrastructure...
Research Publication
Wind energy was introduced to Iowa in the early 2000s and has been a feature of the state’s landscape since; Howard County saw its first wind turbines erected in 2008 and 2009 with the Pioneer I and...
Wind energy has been part of the Iowa landscape for decades. Today, the state is the second-largest wind power producer in the nation and has the highest share of net electricity generation, with 58%...
The Great Plains is an excellent location for renewable energy resources. The wind that steadily blows an open field of prairie grass also moves the blades of wind turbines. As rural populations...
As the renewable electricity sector grows in Iowa and across the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) footprint, rural stakeholders increasingly experience both benefits and drawbacks from...
A clean energy transition is underway in communities across the United States creating a success story that has transformed the rural economy. Competitive prices, improved technology, and consumer...
Informational Guide
Renewable energy projects offer significant opportunities for rural communities, including the stimulation of economic growth and job creation. In recent years there have been efforts to unlock new...
Iowa is in the middle of an unprecedented boom in solar energy at all levels. Utility-scale solar, the largest type of project, is defined as a solar energy system with enough capacity to produce...
Community Engagement
Research Publication
Renewable energy projects offer significant opportunities for rural communities, including the stimulation of economic growth and job creation. In recent years there have been efforts to unlock new...
Fact Sheets
As more communities begin to address energy siting and development, engaging community members in the decision-making process is important. Community engagement is crucial for the successful...
Informational Guide
Renewable energy projects offer significant opportunities for rural communities, including the stimulation of economic growth and job creation. In recent years there have been efforts to unlock new...
Nebraska resources
Webinars and Courses
Lincoln, the capital city of the major farming state, Nebraska, spends $1.1 billion each year on food sourced from outside its region. According to the "Lincoln Metro, Nebraska Local Farm and Food...
If each consumer in the Omaha Metro Area purchased (or had purchased for them) $5 of food directly from a farm in the region each week, $211 million of new farm income would be generated for Omaha...
Nebraskans spend more than $5 billion per year buying food that is sourced from out of the state. Findings of a new report indicate this loss of economic potential is driving a growing interest in...
“Nebraskans are lucky to have access to great renewable energy potential,” said Lu Nelsen, senior policy associate for the Center. “Wind energy has already grown significantly in the state, and we’re...
Research Publication
Solar at all scales is a growing opportunity in Nebraska. From immense growth in residential solar to the emergence of utility-scale and community projects, solar energy in Nebraska is forecasted to...
Fact Sheets
Across the U.S., the solar industry is booming. Solar project sites often occupy several acres of land and are projected to cover 2 million acres by 2030. To produce 1 megawatt of electricity (enough...
Nebraska has great renewable energy potential. As this capability is capitalized upon, rural communities experience numerous benefits from wind, solar, storage, and electric transmission development...
The growth of the solar industry has brought a wave of new projects. As prices decline, developments are becoming larger and bringing with them new economic opportunity. Nebraska has substantial...
Wind farm development brings numerous economic benefits to the counties and local communities where they’re located. Among the perks are direct payments to landowners who host turbines, and employment...
White Papers
Renewable energy continues to be a growing industry in the U.S., especially in states like Iowa and Nebraska where wind energy accounted for 57% and 24%, respectively, of the total electricity...
The wind energy industry remains one of the fastest growing in the United States. In 2018, U.S. wind capacity increased by 8 percent, bringing total installed capacity to 96,433 megawatts (MW). An...
Iowa resources
Fact Sheets
Iowa has been a national leader in wind energy, and each installment has brought numerous economic benefits to the communities where projects are located. These benefits include direct payments to...
Wind energy was introduced to Iowa in the early 2000s and has been a feature of the landscape since. In 2021, the state was the second largest producer of wind energy and led the nation in net...
Solar energy installations are more common today than ever before. The industry continues to see steady growth nationwide. Across Iowa, there is considerable potential for residential, community, and...
Across the U.S., the solar industry is booming. Solar project sites often occupy several acres of land and are projected to cover 3 million acres by 2030. To produce 10 percent of Iowa’s electricity...
Research Publication
The U.S. is in the beginning stages of a major expansion in the solar energy industry. The Department of Energy’s Solar Futures study estimates that to fully decarbonize the energy grid, solar will...
Wind energy has been part of the Iowa landscape for decades. Today, the state is the second-largest wind power producer in the nation and has the highest share of net electricity generation, with 58%...
White Papers
Renewable energy continues to be a growing industry in the U.S., especially in states like Iowa and Nebraska where wind energy accounted for 57% and 24%, respectively, of the total electricity...
The wind energy industry remains one of the fastest growing in the United States. In 2018, U.S. wind capacity increased by 8 percent, bringing total installed capacity to 96,433 megawatts (MW). An...
Informational Guide
Iowa is in the middle of an unprecedented boom in solar energy at all levels. Utility-scale solar, the largest type of project, is defined as a solar energy system with enough capacity to produce...
The Iowa Environmental Council and Center for Rural Affairs have released a best practices guide for counties developing utility-scale solar siting ordinances, Iowa Solar Siting Resource Guide: Best...
Minnesota resources
Fact Sheets
Wind energy installations have grown significantly in the U.S. over the past 25 years, increasing wind power generating capacity from 2.4 gigawatts (GW) in 2000 to 150.1 GW in April 2024. While...
Las instalaciones de energía eólica han crecido significativamente en EE. UU. durante los últimos 25 años, aumentando la capacidad de generación de energía eólica de 2.4 gigavatios (GW) en el año 2000...
Solar energy development brings numerous economic benefits to the counties and local communities in which it occurs. This includes direct payments to landowners who host solar arrays and new...
Wind farm development brings numerous economic benefits to the counties and local communities where the farms are located. Among the perks are direct payments to landowners who host turbines and...
Transmission lines are like highways for electricity, moving power from where it is produced to the cities and communities needing it. Upgrading and expanding Minnesota's transmission grid offers many...
Las instalaciones de energía solar son más comunes que nunca y la industria continúa experimentando un crecimiento constante en todo el país. En todo Minnesota, existe un potencial considerable para...
Solar energy installations are more common than ever before, with the industry continuing to see steady growth nationwide. Across Minnesota, there is considerable potential for residential, community...
Si bien la electricidad es esencial para los hogares y negocios en los EE. UU., el costo del servicio puede representar una carga para los clientes. Una estrategia clave para limitar esta carga es...
While electricity is essential for homes and businesses across the U.S., the cost of service can pose a burden to customers. One key strategy to limit this burden is to implement efficiency measures...
Research Publication
The Great Plains is an excellent location for renewable energy resources. The wind that steadily blows an open field of prairie grass also moves the blades of wind turbines. As rural populations...
South Dakota resources
Fact Sheets
Wind farm development brings numerous economic benefits to the counties and local communities where they are located. Among the perks are direct payments to landowners who host turbines, and...
Renewable energy offers economic benefits to rural areas and counties where projects are typically located. Notable benefits include direct payments to landowners that establish a new, steady source...
While access to electricity is essential for homes and businesses across the U.S., the cost of service can pose a burden to customers. One key strategy to limit this burden is to implement efficiency...
Si bien el acceso a la electricidad es esencial para los hogares y las empresas en los EE. UU., el costo del servicio puede representar una carga para los clientes. Una estrategia clave para limitar...
Across the U.S., the solar industry is booming. Solar project sites often occupy several acres of land and are projected to cover 3 million acres by 2030. To produce 1 megawatt of electricity (enough...
Solar energy installations are more common today than ever before. The industry continues to see steady growth nationwide. Despite considerable potential, South Dakota has been slower to adopt this...
Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) is a financing tool that creates opportunities for businesses and nonprofits to make clean energy improvements to their properties. Key details • C...
White Papers
The wind energy industry remains one of the fastest growing in the United States. In 2018, U.S. wind capacity increased by 8 percent, bringing total installed capacity to 96,433 megawatts (MW). An...
Infographics
South Dakota once carried the official moniker of “the Sunshine State,” and is one of only three states without net metering policies. For the Midwest state, where 73 percent of net electricity...
