Wind Farm Controversy

This video shows the 2019 debate surrounding the building of wind farms in Madison County, Iowa.

Possible Guiding, Compelling and/or Anchoring Questions

• Why are people upset about having wind farms in their area?
• How common is wind energy common in Iowa? Why might this be?
• How can wind energy be expanded while balancing the environment or people’s interests?

Classroom Suggestions

• Research and identify the wants and needs of different stakeholders in wind energy.
• List and prioritize criteria for and constraints on electricity generation in Iowa.
• Analyze wind energy in light of criteria and constraints and compare to other electricity sources.
• Investigate where and how a student’s home or a school’s electricity is generated and whether similar controversies around wind energy or other generation modes exist in their area.

Related Resources

• KCCI: Madison County residents plead for end to windmill construction: KCCI’s story on the same controversy.
• Iowa Environmental Council: Wind Energy: Information on wind energy in Iowa, including links to fact and data sheets.
• US Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy: Wind Energy in Iowa: Data and publications on wind energy in Iowa.
• Des Moines Register: Wind blows by coal to become Iowa’s largest source of electricity: News article that discusses pros and cons of Iowa’s heavy use of wind.
• Iowa Public Radio: As Wind Energy Thrives, So Does Its Waste Problem: News article that discusses another challenge of heavy reliance on wind energy.
• US Energy Information Administration: Electricity explained - Electricity in the United States: Information on electricity generation in the United States and different sources’ advantages and disadvantages.