06.05.2014 Views

The Impact of Wind Power Projects on Residential Property Values ...

The Impact of Wind Power Projects on Residential Property Values ...

The Impact of Wind Power Projects on Residential Property Values ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

A.2 TXHC Study Area: Howard County (Texas)<br />

Figure A - 3: Map <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> TXHC Study Area<br />

Note: “Sold Homes” include all sold homes both before and after c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong>.<br />

Area Descripti<strong>on</strong><br />

This study area is entirely c<strong>on</strong>tained within Howard County, Texas, and includes the city <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Big<br />

Spring, which is situated roughly 100 miles South <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Lubbock and 275 miles West <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Dallas in<br />

West Texas. On top <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Northern end <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Edwards Plateau, which runs from the Southeast<br />

to the Northwest, sits the 46 turbine (34 MW) Big Spring wind facility, which was c<strong>on</strong>structed in<br />

1998 and 1999. Most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the wind turbines in this project have a hub height <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 213 feet, but four<br />

are taller, at 262 feet. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> plateau and the wind facility overlook the city <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Big Spring which,<br />

when including its suburbs, wraps around the plateau to the South and East. Surrounding the<br />

town are modest farming tracks and arid, undeveloped land. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>se lands, primarily to the South<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the facility towards Forsan (not shown <strong>on</strong> map), are dotted with small oil rigs. Many <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />

homes in Big Spring do not have a view <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the wind facility, but others to the South and East do<br />

have such views.<br />

87

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!