There is no single answer to this question because every lease agreement is different. Leases are binding legal documents and it may be difficult to get out of one. Thus, it is extremely important to understand completely the agreement you are signing into before you sign it. If you happen to find yourself in a situation in which you want to be released from a lease agreement, you should hire a lawyer that has experience dealing with wind leases and easements.

In general, a "successful" wind project is one that makes financial sense.

Typically five things are needed if your wind project is going to pay for itself:

• a good wind resource,
• access to transmission,
• low cost of capital (in other words, a low interest rate),
• ability to utilize state and federal financial incentives, and
• access to equipment

No. While leasing land to wind developers is still the most common way for landowners to get involved with wind energy, more and more farmers, landowners, schools, municipal utilities, and rural communities are developing projects and owning the turbines themselves.

Wind projects bring significant economic development to their host communities through property taxes, new jobs, and work for local contractors. Wind provides these opportunities while producing clean and efficient power from a local natural resource.

A precise understanding of your wind resource is the cornerstone of any wind project. While some of the best resources are found on agricultural lands, the power in the wind varies greatly from one location to another.

A comprehensive study of wind development and property values by the Renewable Energy Policy Project in 2003 showed that wind development usually has either no effect or a small positive impact on property values.

Read the entire study here.

Wind energy and farming are very compatible. Very little land is actually taken out of production - just enough space for the footprint of the tower and access roads, that is, about ½ an acre per turbine. However, multiple towers need to be spaced some distance apart to ensure that they all have good access to the wind.

Wind agreements are long term and legally binding, making it crucial for you to review them carefully and investigate anything you don’t clearly understand. You should always consult an attorney before signing anything.

Wind lease terms vary quite a bit, but general rules of thumb are: $2,500 to $5,000 per turbine, $3,000 to $4,000 per megawatt of capacity, or 2-4% of gross revenues. Larger turbines should translate to larger payments. Compensation packages typically are offered as fixed yearly payments, as percentages of gross revenues, or some combination.