A study by RPO America and the NADO Research Foundation’s Center for Transportation Advancement and Regional Development examines dramatic increases in wind farm installation in the U.S. in recent years.  For many rural areas, the wind energy industry represents new economic opportunities through investment and employment, but moving very long, and sometimes very heavy, turbine components creates special transportation challenges.  This study highlights the experiences of the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission and the Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC) (located in Minnesota). Click here to review the report.

Annette Bair of the SRDC delivered this presentation the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation held the RPO America Peer Symposium, during the 2012 National Rural Transportation Conference. Bair’s presenation describes the process that the SRDC uses to assess complex factors and development surrounding wind energy projects. Click here to view Bair’s presentation.

Bair also presented on SRDC’s Wind, Roads, Bridge, and Land Use Initiative in 2008. The two presentations below outline SRDC’s experience with transporting wind turbines in the region.

Wind, Roads, Bridges and Land Use Initiative (2008)

Part 1 (PDF)

Part 2 (PDF)