Abstract

Determining Land Suitability for Wind Energy Development with Spatial Modeling
Track: Renewable Energy
Authors: Emily Zvolanek

Developed, planned, and proposed wind energy projects in the Upper Great Plains region are rapidly increasing in number. To facilitate a more informed assessment of potential impacts related to commercial wind energy development in that region, a location-specific spatial model was created to evaluate the suitability of the landscape. Factors considered in the model include wind resource potential, land cover and use, slope, land management protections, potentially suitable habitat for threatened and endangered species, and proximity to existing electricity transmission infrastructure. Site suitability values were calculated by geometric mean and classified into three categories using standard deviation. The results indicate optimal areas for wind development, along with locations where development probably should not occur due to physical, environmental, and/or regulatory constraints. Based on the input siting factors, prime development spots occur in concentrated areas in Minnesota and Iowa and are widely dispersed throughout North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska.