A decade ago, the winds of change swept through Carroll County, Iowa, bringing with them more than just gusts and gales. The Carroll Area wind farm, commissioned in 2015, transformed the local landscape and economy. Located at coordinates 41.9373, -94.8904, this onshore facility stands as a proof of renewable energy‘s growing footprint in America’s heartland. NJR Clean Energy Ventures owns it. They’re probably pretty proud of themselves.
The numbers tell part of the story. 20.7 megawatts of nameplate capacity. Fully operational. Utility-scale. It’s not the biggest wind farm in the country, but it’s theirs. In Carroll County, Maryland, residents can install small wind turbines as an accessory use in all zones with a maximum height of 150 feet. The project has become an integral part of the regional power grid, pumping clean electricity into homes across the area.
Meanwhile, Carroll County in Maryland couldn’t be more different in their approach—no specific zoning for large-scale wind projects there. Funny how two places with the same name can have such different attitudes about catching a breeze.
Jobs came with the turbines. So did tax revenue. Local businesses got a boost, and landowners found a new source of income. Who knew wind could be so profitable? The facility contributes to regional renewable energy goals while providing long-term economic benefits. Not bad for a bunch of giant fans sticking out of cornfields.
The project doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s tracked by the Global Wind Power Tracker, included in interactive maps and downloadable datasets for energy nerds worldwide. The wind farm is visible on satellite imagery at zoom level 16, showing the precise layout of the turbines. State and federal reports reference it. People monitor its performance, capacity, and operational status like they’re checking baseball statistics. With the renewable energy sector experiencing explosive growth, projects like Carroll County’s represent just a fraction of the projected 170 million green jobs expected by 2030.
Carroll County, Iowa’s wind farm stands as a success story in America’s shift to cleaner energy. The turbines turn, regardless of political winds elsewhere. While some places debate the merits of renewable energy, this community already has seven years of results to point to. Sometimes the future arrives before you’re ready for it. Carroll County was ready.
References
- https://stuartkaplow.com/legal-library/environmental-law/carroll-county-wind-turbines-future-green-building-tax-credits/
- https://www.gem.wiki/Carroll_Area_wind_farm
- https://dnr.maryland.gov/pprp/Documents/CarrollZoningDocs.pdf
- https://www.psc.state.md.us/wp-content/uploads/2009-MD-PSC-Annual-Report-on-the-Status-of-Wind-Powered-Generating-Stations-in-the-State-of-Maryland.pdf
- https://www.nimbuswind.com
- https://www.monitoringanalytics.com/filings/2025/IMM_Comments_Docket_No_EC25-123_20250918_Public.pdf
- https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/government/directory/public-works/permits-inspections/residential-projects/wind-energy-systems/
- https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/government/directory/public-works/permits-inspections/residential-projects/
- https://www.drought.gov/states/maryland/county/carroll
