The Economic Benefits of Wind Energy in the Southwest Power Pool

Wind energy provides the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) region with $2.8 billion in societal benefits per year. These benefits include reducing the cost of producing electricity, protecting consumers from increases in the price of other fuels, and reducing public health costs by eliminating harmful pollution.

By protecting against electricity and fuel price increases and reducing the need to operate the most expensive power plants, wind energy provides the region’s consumers with $1.2 billion per year in gross benefits.

These benefits are in addition to the thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic development wind energy brings to the SPP region.

This report outlines societal and consumer benefits of wind energy on the SPP, as well as provides an hourly look at wind benefits.