What a Bunch of Wind: Turbines and Property Vaues
You're probably heard the claim: wind turbines hurt property values! Whether people are protesting the construction of turbines or they're worried about buying in an area where turbines have been installed, they're concerned about the long-term appreciation of their property, and they'd bought the
Posted — UpdatedWell, it turns out, the truth is actually more complicated. Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory got curious about the statement that wind turbines harm property values, because it's a pretty loaded claim. If it were correct, it could have huge ramifications for the alternative energy industry and wind in particular; and real estate agents, planning commissions, and other people involved in the real estate industry would have solid cause to be concerned about turbines.
But if it was wrong, all that protest might cause huge problems. For one thing, needless fights would be happening over the installation of turbines, and while such arguments might benefit conventional energy firms, they could prove highly damaging to alternative energy companies just trying to get started. Plus, resistance to turbines could prove to be immensely frustrating in regions with a great supply of wind for power that couldn't be tapped because of the anger of citizens.
So the researchers were heavily invested in finding out what the real story was here.
What does bring home values down is failing to keep up on planned maintenance, not taking advantage of opportunities to update homes so they keep up with the times, allowing yards to get straggly, and not being actively involved in events that might change the direction and future of the community. These are all things within control of the homeowner and the occupants of the home, not external forces like energy companies.
This should be good news for wind energy, which has been fighting for legitimacy and struggling in many communities with residents who don't want turbines in their back yards. Now, the objections center around aesthestic concerns, which while they may be valid don't carry the same weight as worries about negative impact on property values and human health. Future studies are likely to confirm these results, adding more weight to the argument that it's time to embrace wind.