Documents and Studies pertaining to Land Values in or near Wind Farms
Property values blowing in the wind: REALTOR'S REPORT: Proposed turbine projects put damper on residential property sales in Cape Vincent
By NANCY MADSEN, TIMES STAFF WRITER
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2010
Michael McCain's letter to Mr. Ben Hoen at Berkley. It pertains to misrepresentation of the data he submitted for the Berkley study on land values near Turbines. If you choose to read the Berkley study, then keep an open mind and read the facts behind the study.
Summary:
Ben Hoen, Dr. Ryan Wiser, and others conducted a national study to determine the impact of industrial-scale wind turbines on nearby property values. The preliminary conclusions of the report were announced in 2007, however, no report has been released. Windaction.org had an opportunity to review the study's methodology and provide comments to Hoen and Wiser. Our comments can be accessed by downloading this file.
Whether or not wind farms adversely affect property values is a highly debated issue. The most well-known study was conducted by the Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP); it claims that there has been no significant impact on property values from the Fenner or Madison wind farms (REPP 2003).
If you go to REPP's website and look at the report (.pdf file), which allegedly found that "property values... actually performed better than in the comparable community", you'll see that "the comparable community" was a simulated model, and the report made just one reference to noise from wind turbines in 81 pages, which was this one referring to a previous study; "However, the study concluded that while properties with wind turbines on them may increase in value, other properties may be adversely affected if within sight or audible distance of the wind turbines."
It's no wonder they put that big disclaimer at the top, absolving the government of any responsibilty for accuracy or usefullness of the report. Read the full report: http://www.savewesternny.org/property.html
Chris Luxemburger is a real estate broker, director of the Brampton Real Estate Board and the Chairperson of the Real Estate By-Laws Committee in Ontario, Canada. In his survey of the three-year sales records for the Melancthon Wind Plant and surrounding area, Luxemburger found significant differences among 600 properties within and beyond three nautical miles of the plant. Those in proximity to wind turbines had either a higher rate of non-sale (11% vs. 3%) or took twice as long to sell. He summarizes his findings in this presentation.
This report was prepared for a presentation given at the South Plains Agriculture Wind & Wildlife Conference in Lubbock, Texas on February 13, 2009. The findings and conclusions contained herein are the exclusive property of Gardner Appraisal Group, Inc., and cannot be re-produced without the express written permission of Gardner Appraisal Group, Inc.
