How wind power affects the people of North Dakota:
![A wind turbine under construction](/energy/level1/files/level1/img/module04/Construction-Sequence-BISON-4-optimized.jpg)
Bison Wind Energy Center Construction: A wind turbine under construction at the Bison Wind Energy Center. Photo courtesy of Minnesota Power/ALLETE.
- North Dakota wind farms can power over 500,000 average homes on the electrical grid.
- No pollution results from wind generation.
- Wind energy is considered "clean" energy.
- The development of wind farms contributes to the economyAn economy (ee-KON-ah-me) refers to the money or possessions created by managing the goods and resources of a region. of North Dakota.
- Nearly $5 million ($5,000,000) is paid each year to landowners who allow wind turbines to be on their land.
![Off-loading a wind turbine nacelle](/energy/level1/files/level1/img/module04/Bison-Nacelle-Delivery-2-optimized.jpg)
Off-loading the Nacelle: A nacelle for the Minnesota Power/ALLETE's Bison Wind Energy Center arrives by ship in Duluth, Minnesota. Photo courtesy of Minnesota Power/ALLETE.
- North Dakota's wind industry provides jobs.
- North Dakota factories make or assemble products for the wind industry.
- These include building steel towers for turbines, making turbine blades, and assembling turbine nacelles.A nacelle (nah-SEL) is the structure behind the blade of a wind turbine that holds the drive shafts, gear box, and generator.
- The wind industry also offers opportunities for electricians, power line workers, and people who work in building, operating, and maintaining the turbines.
- North Dakota factories make or assemble products for the wind industry.