When a wind project breaks ground, it’s not just turbines going up — the local economy takes off. Invenergy anticipates as many as 450 construction workers at the peak of construction should the Seward County project be approved.

Construction workers come to town for a year or more. They sleep in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, shop in our stores, and fill up at our gas stations. Hardware suppliers see increased demand. Welding and equipment shops get busy. Rental companies, gravel suppliers, and trucking companies benefit as well. Not to mention the local concrete companies that supply the anchors to these turbines.

It’s a rush of new spending that supports jobs we already have while circulating new dollars throughout the community.

And what often gets overlooked — many workers return later for maintenance, repairs, or to help on future phases, keeping that economic benefit going even after construction winds down.

Wind energy builds the grid — but during construction, it also builds stronger local businesses right here at home.