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Brady Wind Farm

North Dakota Wind Energy

North Dakota is a national leader in wind resources. Wind energy provided more than 17 percent of the electricity generated in the state in 2014. North Dakota has rapidly grown its wind capacity for several years, but is still only using a fraction of its wind resource potential. Developing the state’s incredible wind resource has led to jobs in the construction, operations and manufacturing sectors, with at least four active manufacturing facilities in North Dakota producing components for the wind industry.

Jobs & Economic
An investment in wind power is an investment in jobs, including jobs in operations and maintenance, construction, manufacturing and many support sectors. In addition, wind projects produce lease payments for landowners and increase the tax base of communities.

  • 2014 direct and indirect jobs supported: 2,001 to 3,000
  • Total capital investment: $3.7 billion
  • Annual land lease payments: $5.7 million
Wind-Related Manufacturing
The United States has over 500 manufacturing facilities producing products for the wind industry that range from blade, tower and turbine nacelle assembly facilities to raw component suppliers, including fiberglass and steel.

  • Number of active manufacturing facilities in the state: 4
Benefits
Note: Calculations based on national and state averages. Online Wind Project Manufacturing Facility

Wind Projects

  • Installed wind capacity: 2,143 MW
  •  State rank for installed wind capacity: 11th
  • Number of wind turbines: 1,177
  • State rank for number of wind turbines: 11th
  • Wind projects online: 24
  • Wind capacity under construction: 200 MW
Current Wind Generation
In 2014, wind energy provided 17.58% of all in-state electricity production.

  • Equivalent number of homes powered by wind: 582,000
Wind Generation Potential
The DOE Wind Vision Scenario projects that North Dakota could produce enough wind energy by 2030 to power the equivalent of 1.6 million average American homes.

  • Land based technical wind potential at 80 m hub height: 742,276 MW
  • Land based technical wind potential at 110 m hub height: 394,519 MW (Source: NREL)
Environmental Benefits
Generating wind power creates no emissions and uses virtually no water.

  • Annual state water consumption savings: 1.5 billion gallons
  • Equivalent number of water bottles saved: 11.7 billion
  • Annual state carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions avoided: 2.8 million metric tons
  • Equivalent cars worth of emissions avoided: 595,000
1501 M St. NW, Suite 1000 | Washington, DC 20005 | p. 202.383.2500 | f. 202.383.2505

STATE WIND FACTS POLICY
In 2007, North Dakota set a non-binding, voluntary target that by 2015, 10% of all retail electricity sold in the state would be obtained from renewable sources. Wind energy has historically been the renewable resource chosen to meet renewable standards targets, fulfilling 86% of RPS requirements through 2011 and driving economic development in the state as a result.

Power of Wind For more information please visit:

Brady II Fact Sheet
Projected Local Economic Impact

Construction Jobs:
Over 200 construction jobs

Full-Time Operations Jobs:
6 - 10 full time job positions

Capital Cost:
Over $250 Million

Property Taxes:
Over $20 Million*

Landowner Payments:
Over $24 Million*

*Estimated over first 30 years of the project. All figures are estimated and subject to change.