Property Values and Windmills

We could not find much numerical data regarding the effects of windmills on the value of surrounding property.  Included below is a brief letter from Mr. Bergey, of Bergey Windpower Co., and his knowledge of the matter.  More close to home, we had our realtor gather property values around three windmills in the Rochester, NY area.   In all three instances, the asking price for most property near residential wind turbines was higher than the assessed value.

Mr. Michael Mackenzie, who has spent 20 years in the real estate market in Tehachapi, CA, states that land values increased 100 fold when the value of property with heavy winds was realized (see Tehachapi Report).  Mr. Bruce Bailey of AWS Scientific, a consultant in wind energy, states that "properly operating windmills do not negatively impact neighbors nor harm property values" (see AWS Report).

Wind Energy: Small Turbines and Property Values
taken from the American Wind Energy Association Web Page

[Copy of a letter to a small turbine owner]
April 23, 1997
RE: Experience with property value impacts from the installation of small wind turbines on residential property

You have asked us to share our experience with the impact of small wind turbine installations on property values within the local area. We are happy to do so.

Bergey Windpower Co. is the nation's leading supplier of residential wind turbines and, in fact, the world's leading supplier of small wind turbines. We have been manufacturing small wind turbines since 1980 and now have over 1,600 installations in all 50 U.S. states and more than 80 countries. Quite a few of our 1- and 10-kW wind turbines are installed in residentially-zoned property and we have installations in all classes of zoned property. I would estimated that we have over 20 installations in the state of New York. Although the wind turbine you are trying to install is not one of ours I think our experience is directly relevant to your situation.

The fear of diminished property values is a charge that is sometimes raised by abutters or other concerned neighbors that for whatever reason do not want the small wind turbine installed in their neighborhood. But, there is no evidence of this having ever occurred. Our customers have sold their homes, and adjacent lots they owned, and they have had direct and nearby neighbors sell their homes. In all cases but one the wind turbine was not an issue. In the one case where the turbine was an issue the turbine had been partially installed on the abutting property due to a faulty survey. This situation was resolved amicably between the turbine owner and the new neighbor.

We have never been contacted by a Realtor or a property owner concerning actual reduced value. We have had no claims made on us and we know of no claims made on our customers. We believe that the real world evidence demonstrates that diminished property values from small wind turbine installations is a false and unsubstantiated charge. It would be a shame if an unsubstantiated charge of potential risk were to ultimately deny you the definite financial and environmental benefits of owning a small wind turbine.

I hope these comments are helpful. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Michael L.S. Bergey
Tel: 405-364-4212
President Fax: 405-364-2078
Bergey Windpower Co. mbergey@bergey.com
2001 Priestley Ave. http://www.bergey.com
Norman, OK 73069 USA