Wind power currently provides less than 2 percent of the nation’s electric power, but the U.S. Department of Energy plans for an increase to 20 percent within the next 20 years. Wind energy is a growing industry sector with the potential to transform much of the nation’s industrial and energy economy, while avoiding harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
At the same time, commercial-scale wind projects pose new challenges on land and water, and state, federal, and local governments are climbing a steep learning curve as they consider proposals for new facilities. These challenges include regulating facilities spread across large areas within municipalities,...