Walnut Hills Wind Project

Walnut Hills is a proposed wind energy project that would create local, clean energy in Hendricks County. The project would have a capacity of 200 megawatts and would generate electricity to power more than 50,000 Indiana homes. Walnut Hills is in the early stages of development and would not begin construction before 2026. Many Hendricks County landowners are eager to host the project on their private property, please contact us if you would like to know more.
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Common Questions about wind energy

Are wind farms loud?

Most modern wind turbines create sound that is only slightly above the ambient wind noise. On average, land-based, utility-scale wind turbines produce sounds that fall in the range of 35–45 dB when heard from a neighboring a home or building.

For context, this sound in this range is louder than a human whisper, but quieter than the average decibel level of an everyday conversation with your neighbor or family member.

The U.S. Department of Energy found that this means turbines are no louder than a typical refrigerator (50 dB) and create far less noise pollution than average city car traffic (70 dB).

Do wind turbines pose a risk to birds or other wildlife?

Over the last decade especially, wind turbine technology has improved to the point where developers, engineers, and scientists have had the time to evaluate the greatest risks to birds posed by the turbines and their positioning.

Today’s wind turbine technology ensures that modern turbines pose little risk to birds and bats when developers observe the proper engineering and siting considerations.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developed recommendations for wind developers to observe when planning a turbine site. Preliminary research on the impact of turbines on bats has been focused on altering wind plant operations at specific times of the day or year and during periods of low wind speed.

This research has shown reductions of bat fatalities due to wind turbines by as much as 80%. At Walnut Hills, we are still advancing the land campaign. Once we have sufficient land holdings, we will commence environmental studies to assess how the project can best minimize any impact on birds and bats.

Would a wind farm impact my property values?

A peer-reviewed scientific study of property values found that over an analysis of over 7,500 single-family homes in the United States that were situated within 10 miles of a utility-scale wind installation, there was no significant impact on property values of those homes.

Neither the view impacts nor construction of turbines affected property values in a significant manner – in fact, researchers found that when this myth is perpetuated, it harms the property values more than the wind installations themselves.

Do wind farms impact human health?

Wind farms are safe. Our operations teams and the landowners we who host our facilities know this firsthand. A 2022 study from the Ohio Department of Health found that wind turbines do not impact human health.

Researchers who examined the available research found that there is no significant scientific evidence that demonstrates a direct link between wind turbines and negative physical health outcomes.

Electromagnetic Frequency (EMF) exposure for those individuals living in the vicinity of wind farms was found to be no different than the daily level of exposure generated by common household appliances.

Will wind turbines pollute water or land?

Wind turbines do not generate pollution or toxins of any kind. Wind installations pose no risk to local groundwater and do not leach chemicals. While wind turbine recycling is in its earliest stages, the industry recognizes the importance of developing a recycling system to ensure that blades and other turbine components at the end of their lifespan are responsibly disassembled and recycled.

Will the turbines have red lights that flash all night?
No – we use updated lighting technology that will only illuminate when radar detects the presence of an approaching aircraft. This system, called an Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS), means that the lights will turn on only when needed and will still meet the safety requirements of the FAA and other authorities.
What benefits would a wind farm do for people who don’t participate in the project?
Wind energy projects are significant investments that generate stable, long-term tax payments to local and county governments. Roads and Schools are the first to benefit from the tax increase. Often, first responders and parks also benefit from the tax flow that comes into the county. This tax revenue will benefit through helping reduce the burden on homeowners and businesses while also providing funds for the community needs. Renewable energy projects in Indiana currently pay about $30 million each year in local taxes.
Where does the electricity go?
Electricity generated by Walnut Hills will go onto the electric grid to provide power where it is needed. Electricity from the wind turbines flows onto the power lines that deliver electricity across our region. Walnut Hills will be part of the mix of generation sources that keep our power on. More local power generation means a stronger grid and a more reliable electric supply close near the project site.