Creation of local jobs is a myth.
The issue has come up that building industrial wind turbines in our area will create local jobs. In the webinar the wind developer has asked us to watch, it is stated:
“Most of the jobs are not necessarily long term in the community that hosts the wind farm. ……. People should know that generally for the host community wind development isn’t a huge jobs driver”
We do acknowledge there will be some short term employment (a few months) for construction of the turbines and also housing out-of-state workers; however careful research shows that most construction jobs are filled by specialized workers who are brought in temporarily from outside the community.
A 2020 University of Oklahoma graduate thesis performed research to understand the local-level impacts and perceptions of wind energy development in a rural, host community. (following excerpts are from University of Oklahoma Thesis, Woody, T. When the wind comes right behind the’ … sales pitch: alternative views to wind energy development in a rural Oklahoma host community, https://shareok.org/handle/11244/326606
Overall Conclusion: “The most notable aspect of the findings of this study is the overall negative or doubtful perceptions of local wind energy development, with interviewees citing that economic benefits have not materialized for them as anticipated”
Below we hear from several business owners who comment on what impact industrial wind energy development had on the local rural host community.
“I think the wind industry has little positive impact on the area. The wind industry greatly exaggerates the number of jobs they will provide … they brag about the number of jobs … but most of those jobs are only during the construction. They conveniently forget to mention that almost all the construction jobs are people brought in from out of state that specialize in this type of construction” (quote from a local ranch and eco-tourism owner that includes seasonal hunting, Business Owner 1)
“the wind industry here is not involved in the local community at all, it does nothing to help our local businesses” and “the people making lots of money off of that industry don’t reinvest back into the town’s economy.” (Business Owner 2, owns a clothing store)
“multiple interviewees claimed that the wind industry outright “lied” about the funding that would go to schools after wind farms were built” “I just don’t see it as a big economic factor.” Surprisingly, Steve painted wind energy production as no more than just another “boom and bust industry” itself, bringing economic growth to the area only when new wind farms were being built. But, Steve said, “that has all died down, and we just don’t see anything from that industry now.” (Business Owner 3, Manager of an local Inn)