Wind Energy Siting Handbook

Global warming is considered one of the most serious problems facing the global community. Certain gases, such as carbon dioxide, when released in the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels, create a "greenhouse effect." Clean, renewable energy solutions, such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric systems, that do not rely on fossil fuels for energy generation help curb the effects of global warming. Throughout the United States, many local and state governments have set mandates or passed laws to encourage clean energy generation by requiring utilities to produce a portion of electricity from renewable sources. Although wind has been used as an energy source for centuries, only within the last 30 years have advances in technology allowed wind energy to become an increasingly important part of the nation’s energy mix. Since 1974 the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has been committed to encouraging and assisting wind energy development in the United States.


This handbook was developed by the AWEA Siting Committee to inform wind energy developers and other interested parties about environmental siting issues relevant to land-based commercial-scale wind energy project development in the United States. This handbook has been designed to provide technical information and useful tools based on the industry’s collective experience in siting wind energy projects and assessing potential impacts.