O’Brien County, Iowa — Northwest Iowa has secured its popularity for renewable energy projects, according to a report from the Center for Rural Affairs.
Lucas Nelsen, who authored the report “Link to Rural Development and a Renewable Future,” says 41-percent of the new energy generation projects that went online last year were specifically wind energy projects, including projects here in O’Brien County.
While the projects bring a host of benefits to rural communities, he says barriers remain to renewable energy.
Nelsen says one key to solving those transmission problems lies in proper planning.
Nelsen says the report shows “wind turbine technician” is the fastest growing profession in the country and the Department of Energy estimates the wind industry could support up to 380-thousand jobs by 2030. The wind industry currently employs some seven-thousand Iowans.
