Global engineering consultancy company Sinclair Knight Mertz (SKM) has released the results of a landmark study conducted into the investment, employment and carbon abatement effects of using wind turbines.

 

SKM concluded that for every 50 megawatts of capacity, the average wind farm creates up to 48 direct jobs during construction, and then employs around five ongoing permanent staff.

 

A typical 50 megawatt wind farm pays host farmers up to $250,000 per year, is constructed by workers who spend $1.2 million locally, and contributes $80,000 annualy to projects.  Every 100 MW of wind power also reduces around 246,200 tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

 

The full report can be found here