FAQs
Get the Facts
Learn more about the Foxglove Wind project here! Below are answers to some of the most-asked questions about wind energy.
How do wind turbines work?
How much wind is needed for a wind turbine to operate?
A typical modern turbine will start to generate electricity when wind speeds reach six to nine miles per hour (mph), known as the cut-in speed. Turbines will shut down if the wind is blowing too hard (roughly 55 miles an hour) to prevent equipment damage. Over the course of a year, modern turbines can generate usable amounts of electricity over 90% of the time. For example, if the wind at a turbine reaches the cut-in speed of six to nine mph, the turbine will start generating electricity. As wind speeds increase, so does electricity production.
We will collect and analyze several years of wind data in our prospective project area to confirm that the wind resource is excellent for wind project operations
How do wind projects benefit local communities?
Wind projects provide numerous benefits to the communities in which they are sited. Wind projects represent significant local investments and drive meaningful increases in the local taxable property base. Wind projects also provide guaranteed annual property tax payments to local taxing jurisdictions, which allow county and local officials to make long-term financial plans and increase spending on public services and other critically important infrastructure.
Wind projects pay millions of dollars per year directly to landowners through lease and easement agreements, resulting in a diversified revenue stream that protects against fluctuating commodity prices and preserves family properties for future generations. In addition, these projects directly create hundreds of full-time equivalent jobs during the construction and installation phases, support indirect and induced jobs during development and construction, and create long-term jobs to operate and maintain the projects day-to-day.
In the last decade, wind has delivered $148 billion of investment across the country, and in 2023 alone, wind projects delivered $2 billion in state and local tax payments and land-lease payments.
Does wind energy make economic sense?
The cost of wind has declined by 31% over the last decade, with improved technology and US-based manufacturing making it competitive with other energy sources and the cheapest source of new electricity in many parts of the country.
According to Lazard’s Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis – Version 18.0 (2025), even without tax credits, new wind resources have a levelized cost of energy in the range of 3.7 cents/kWh – 8.6 cents/kWh.4 Wind projects generate electricity at a lower cost per megawatt hour than would other possible fossil fuel and renewable energy options.5 These results have been bolstered by the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook 2024 which found, “Solar PV and wind are now the cheapest new sources of electricity in most markets.”
Adding to their growing appeal, wind projects are uniquely able to sell their electricity output at a fixed price over the life of the project because the “fuel” is free and not subject to increases in commodity fuel prices
https://www.lazard.com/media/eijnqja3/lazards-lcoeplus-june-2025.pdf
https://www.lazard.com/media/eijnqja3/lazards-lcoeplus-june-2025.pdf
https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/140a0470-5b90-4922-a0e9-838b3ac6918c/WorldEnergyOutlook2024.pdf
https://docs.nlr.gov/docs/fy13osti/59065.pdf
Is wind energy reliable?
Wind energy is the largest source of renewable electricity generation in the US, providing 10.1% of the country’s electricity and growing.8 While wind is variable as a power resource, that does not mean that wind projects are backed up with a coal or gas plant should the wind stop blowing. The variability of wind
can be predictably forecast and used to complement other generation sources. No electricity source runs 100 percent of the time, including coal, gas, and nuclear plants. Grid operators have decades of experience managing changes in supply and demand, and sudden, unexpected outages at large conventional power plants are more costly and difficult to manage than the gradual, predictable changes in wind output.
https://cleanpower.org/facts/wind-power/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuarhodes/2018/08/21/what-does-100-renewable-energy-really-mean/?sh=52b61ca21ac8
Do wind projects produce enough energy to offset the energy used in manufacturing components?
Yes. A typical wind energy project using 2 MW wind turbines repays its carbon footprint in six months or less, providing decades of zero emissions energy that displaces the fossil fuel energy that was used to manufacture the turbines and construct the wind project.10 As wind turbine technology continues to improve with longer lifetimes and larger nameplate capacities, the length of the energy payback period will continue to decrease.
The Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory reviewed all published research and concluded that wind energy’s carbon footprint is lower than nuclear and most other renewable energy resources.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140616093317.htm
https://docs.nlr.gov/docs/fy13osti/57187.pdf
Are wind turbines safe to live or work around?
Millions of people around the world live and work close to operating wind turbines without any health or safety effects.
According to a 2018 study by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory,13 there are more than 1.3 million homes located within five miles of a utility-scale wind turbine. The study also found that 92 percent of survey respondents living within five miles of a wind turbine reported positive or neutral experiences and that 90 percent of survey respondents would prefer to live near a wind farm over any type of centralized power plant, whether coal, natural gas or nuclear.
https://cleanpower.org/facts/wind-power/
https://emp.lbl.gov/projects/wind-neighbor-survey
Do wind projects impact human health?
No. Over 20 years of research into the impact of wind turbines on human health indicates that wind turbines, when constructed properly, do not pose a risk to people’s health.
University researchers, government scientists, and medical and public health authorities have published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific studies on health and living in proximity to wind turbines. These studies have investigated the wide range of purported negative health claims with respect to wind turbines including sound, low frequency noise and infrasound, shadow flicker, and electromagnetic field emissions (EMF). Independent health experts have conducted comprehensive reviews of the existing research and repeatedly conclude that wind turbines do not pose a threat to public health.
Wind projects do not burn fossil fuel to generate electricity, and as a result, do not emit any air pollutants such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, or particulate matter. Wind helps avoid 351 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually, which is the equivalent to removing 61 million cars from the road.
https://cleanpower.org/wp-content/uploads/gateway/2022/11/ACP_Wind-Turbines-and-Health-Fact-Sheet.pdf
https://cleanpower.org/wp-content/uploads/gateway/2022/11/ACP_Wind-Turbines-and-Health-Fact-Sheet_8.24.pdf
https://cleanpower.org/facts/wind-power/
What is shadow flicker?
Shadow flicker is predictable, harmless, and passes quickly. It is based on the sun’s angle, turbine location, and the distance to an observer. Shadow flicker occurs when rotating wind turbine blades pass in front of the sun and cast a shadow, and numerous health studies have concluded that shadow flicker does not cause negative health impacts to those living in proximity to wind turbines.17 Shadow flicker can be mitigated and minimized with proper planning and siting and cumulatively only occurs for a few hours a year. During cloudy days, shadow flicker does not occur. Further, there are industry standards that provide guidance on the recommended 12-month accrued shadow flicker duration to minimize any potential impacts. We design our turbine layouts in accordance with that guidance.
Do wind turbines create loud noise that’s disruptive to neighbors?
No, wind turbines are not disruptive to neighbors or harmful to human health. While wind turbines do produce some sound, there is no significant body of peer-reviewed, scientific evidence that clearly demonstrates a direct link between adverse physical health effects and exposure to noise associated with wind turbines.
Today’s wind turbines take advantage of decades of design, engineering, manufacturing, and operating experience to minimize sound from operations, and the Foxglove Wind Project will be designed to comply with local and state laws regarding noise limits.
“Noise from wind turbines measured outside the residence, up to 46 decibels (or modeled up to 49 decibels using the new standard), poses no risk to human sleep. Not at this audible range, nor its associated low-frequency noise levels. At this threshold and lower, there is good evidence to support that there are no health risks from wind turbines,” – Dr. Jeffrey M. Ellenbogen, Director of the Sound Sleep Project and former Associate Professor in the US Department of Defense.
https://cleanpower.org/wp-content/uploads/gateway/2022/11/ACP_Wind-Turbines-and-Health-Fact-Sheet_8.24.pdf
https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/47/2/zsad286/7377617?login=false
Does living near wind turbines affect livestock fertility?
No. Cattle and other livestock are not affected by wind turbines, and ranchers have reported that cattle benefit from the shade turbines offer.
Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are present everywhere in our environment, including TV antennae, radio signals, Wi-Fi, and common household appliances. EMF emissions from wind turbines are lower than those produced by common household electrical devices and are below any existing regulatory guidelines with respect to health.
Several studies have assessed the correlation between proximity to high voltage direct current transmission lines and impacts on agricultural operations. According to an epidemiologic study of 500 herds of Holstein dairy cattle, herd health, measured using multiple indicators, did not differ between periods before and after a nearby +/- 400 kV direct current line was energized. Another study conducted by Oregon State University determined that no differences were found between cattle and crops raised under 500 kV direct current lines and those raised away from the lines. These studied voltages are significantly greater than what will be used in the Foxglove Wind Project.
https://www.wyomingnews.com/news/local_news/wyoming-ranch-benefits-from-partnership-with-wind-energy/article_477b313e-eb9e-11e7-b5b6-2b732187dbc0.html
https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-electromagnetic-fields
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1476-069X-13-9
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3772982/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/016815919190080H
Do wind turbines interfere with Wi-Fi or cell phone service?
No. Your internet and cell phone won’t notice a wind turbine any more than they notice a water tower or grain silo. Wi-Fi operates at very short ranges, so a turbine located hundreds of feet away will not have any effect. Cell towers are networked with multiple overlapping signals and use licensed frequencies that are designed to penetrate obstacles like trees, buildings, and wind turbines. Further, both cell and Wi-Fi services operate on frequency bands and use network architectures that are not affected by wind turbines.
Do wind projects negatively affect local water supplies?
No, wind turbines do not require water to produce electricity or cool power generating equipment, so the project will not have a negative impact on local water supplies. Most of the water needed for the project will be related to dust suppression control during construction, and it is anticipated that water will be purchased from a nearby water control district for that purpose. Furthermore, turbine foundations are only approximately 10-to-12 feet deep and do not impact the local water tables.
How will the project affect hunting?
This project will not impact ongoing hunting activities on land that is not participating in the project, and there are no restrictions or setbacks that could impact hunting on non-participating properties. Hunting activities where active construction is occurring will be temporarily suspended, but only on participating landowner property.
Do wind projects affect local wildlife?
Wind energy projects, like all forms of development, can result in interactions with the natural environment. Wildlife and natural resources are an important consideration in our selection of project sites.
Furthermore, the wind energy industry is closely regulated by state and federal agencies to ensure any effects on wildlife are minimized and mitigated. Our dedicated environmental permitting team takes all necessary steps during the planning and siting stages to identify sensitive species such as bats and birds, high-risk locations, and mitigation efforts. We work collaboratively with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state agencies to determine the best siting for wind turbines to minimize any impact on wildlife. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab noted that wind turbines cause less than 0.01 percent of all human-related bird deaths.
Do wind projects negatively impact property values?
No. Many studies have shown that wind projects do not have long-term negative impacts on the value of neighboring properties. Wind projects benefit all local property owners by driving economic investment and tax revenue. These funds improve roads, schools, and community services, while also keeping local taxes low – all of which factor into property values.
- A 2022 peer-reviewed study found that beginning with the construction phase, wind energy projects led to economically meaningful increases in median home values, household income, and both county-level income and GDP per capita.
- A 2019 analysis of property value research by researchers at the University of California, Davis found that wind turbines do not negatively impact property values at any point during their installation, including post announcement, during construction, and post construction.
- A 2019 study of attitudes towards wind turbine neighbors conducted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that 92 percent of people living within five miles of a wind turbine reported positive or neutral experiences.
- A 2013 study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found no significant impact on the property values of the 50,000 homes researchers analyzed near 67 different wind facilities.
- The wind industry is a driver of meaningful economic development, particularly in rural areas. Wind energy projects across the U.S. deliver an estimated $2 billion in state and local tax payments and land-lease payments each year. The industry employs more than 131,000 Americans across all 50 states, including 20,000 wind manufacturing jobs at over 450 facilities.
https://cleanpower.org/wp-content/uploads/gateway/2023/12/ACP_Property-Values-Land-Based-Wind-Turbines_Fact-Sheet-Dec-2023.pdf
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030142152200218X
https://eta-publications.lbl.gov/sites/default/files/hoen_et_al._2019_attitudes_of_u.s._wind_turbine_neighbors.pdf
https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2013/08/27/no-evidence-of-residential-property-value-impacts-near-u-s-wind-turbines-a-new-berkeley-lab-study-finds/
https://cleanpower.org/facts/wind-power/
Will there be flashing lights at night?
We are committed to using an Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS) for the Foxglove Wind project. The Federal Aviation Administration launched the standards for ADLS technology in late 2015, which is designed to reduce the impact of nighttime lights through the integration of a radar-based system. Unlike traditional wind turbine lighting systems, which remain constantly lit during nighttime hours, this technology activates the turbine lights only when low-flying aircraft are detected nearby, significantly reducing light pollution while maintaining airspace safety. Our commitment to using an ADLS system is just one example of who we are deploying the ever-evolving technological advancements in the wind industry.
What happens if ice accumulates on wind turbine blades?
As with any structure, wind turbine blades may accumulate ice under certain atmospheric conditions. The formation of ice can counteract the amount of power being produced, so having de-icing strategies in place is important to maximize a project’s potential.
The possibility of ice throw is considered during both project planning and operation. The proper siting of wind turbines through appropriate setbacks from roads, dwellings, and other structures mitigates from the risk of ice throw, and the Foxglove Wind project is being designed to exceed all applicable setback distance regulations.
Modern wind turbines are also designed with ice detection systems to minimize the potential for ice throw. If ice accumulates on the blades, the turbine will slow down or shut off until the ice melts. Further, measures can be put in place to minimize the potential for ice to accumulate on the blades, including water-resistant coatings and internal heating systems.
Do wind turbines increase the likelihood of lightning strikes?
No, wind turbines do not cause lightning strikes. Lightning is a result of electrical energy in the atmosphere, a phenomenon that occurs everywhere. Every turbine will be installed with appropriate grounding to ensure that in the event of a lightning strike, the surge of electricity will be safely discharged into the ground. From a fire safety perspective, it is safer for lightning to strike a grounded structure, such as a turbine and its vegetation-free turbine pad, than it is to strike vegetation in the area.
Do wind projects affect agriculture or grazing activities?
Only approximately 2% of a wind project area is occupied by project infrastructure, leaving the remaining 98% available for current land use. Landowners and tenants can continue to farm or ranch their properties right up to the base of the turbine while diversifying their revenue stream to better weather economic downturns and preserve family property for future generations.
Are there rare earth materials contained within wind turbines?
How will you ensure that roads are not damaged during component deliveries and construction?
We will minimize the potential effects on local roads by entering into a road use agreement with each affected county outlining the process of improving and repairing roads that will be used during construction and operations. We will conduct a before-and-after visual inspection to ensure that the roads are left in as good or better condition as they were prior to construction. In addition, financial assurance will be put in place in the amount necessary to repair any damage to public roads caused by construction and operations.
What is the lifespan of the project?
Who is responsible for decommissioning?
Our lease agreement states that the company is responsible for the decommissioning and removal of project infrastructure at the end of each project’s life. Standard decommissioning practices include dismantling and repurposing, salvaging/recycling, or disposing of wind turbine components, and restoration.
Additionally, state, county, and local permitting authorities routinely require a decommissioning and restoration plan be put in place, which outline the various ways in which the project owner will safely and responsibly remove installed equipment and restore the property within the project area. In addition, financial securities are often required to ensure host communities and landowners will bear no responsibility for decommissioning or restoration.
We will execute an Agricultural Impact Mitigation Agreement with the IL Department of Agriculture prior to starting construction.
Can wind turbines be recycled?
Yes. Today 90% of a wind turbine is recyclable, and the industry has made great strides towards recycling options for the fiberglass blades as well, which will continue to increase the percentage of recyclable material.
https://cleangridalliance.org/blog/137/wind-turbine-recycling-and-disposal