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 all turbines in the state, the most of any Iowa county. In the annual assessment year of 2022, the total valuation of all turbines was $237.4 million, making up 25.7% of Adair County’s total property valuation.
In the fiscal year 2023-24, the county collected $5.5 million in tax revenue from wind turbines, which was directed to regular taxing bodies and special projects through a tax increment financing structure. However, the total revenue is not completely reflective of the number of turbines in the county because of the way Iowa values wind turbines. Seventy percent of active turbines in Adair County were built between 2018 and 2020, which means they will add $150 million to the total valuation of wind turbines over the next 5 years, or a 56% increase from 2022.
Download the publication to view sources and read the case study.
