There has been a surge in wind power development in recent years, and wind energy has been promoted both as a clean supply of energy and as a way to build local economies, especially in rural areas.
Wind energy has recently become part of the presidential election, as incentives for wind development have been promoted by President Obama and dismissed by Republican nominee Mitt Romney.
What impact does wind energy have on local jobs and income? Until now, there has been no systematic analysis of how wind energy development affects rural counties.