🌬️ Wind Energy Decision Maker

Where should your town build a wind turbine — and how big? Every choice has tradeoffs. Think like an environmental planner.

🏛️

Your Scenario

The town of Millfield, NY has received a clean energy grant of $3,000,000. You are on the town's Green Energy Committee. Your job: decide where to build a wind turbine and what features to include. Your decision will affect energy production, wildlife, neighbors, and local farmland. Choose wisely.

1Choose a Location
🏔️

Hilltop Farmland

High elevation outside town. Excellent wind, but sits along a hawk migration corridor.

Great wind Bird risk Low cost
🌊

Near the Lake

Strong, steady lake breezes. Near wetlands and a popular recreation area — community is divided.

Great wind Wetland risk Mixed opinion
🌾

Open Farm Field

Flat farmland on the edge of town. Farmer keeps most of their land. Decent wind, low ecological risk.

Good wind Farmer-friendly Low risk
🏭

Industrial Zone

Already-developed land near the old factory. Low wind, but no habitat disruption and no noise complaints from neighbors.

Weak wind No wildlife risk Community OK
🌲

Forest Clearing

Moderate wind on a ridge. Would require clearing 2 acres of mature forest and building a new road in.

Good wind Habitat loss Bat risk
🏘️

Town Edge (Near Homes)

Close to the power grid — saves connection cost. But neighbors will hear it and see shadow flicker.

Decent wind Grid nearby Noise + shadow
2Choose a Turbine Size
🌀

Small

Quiet, compact, low visual impact. Good for tight spaces or community opposition.

~75 homes
$800,000
💨

Medium

The most common community-scale turbine. Good balance of output, cost, and size.

~200 homes
$1,800,000
⚡

Large

Utility-scale power. Very visible on the landscape. More wildlife risk, but maximum energy output.

~450 homes
$2,700,000
3Add Environmental Protections (Optional)

🦅 Wildlife Monitoring System

Radar that detects birds and bats and temporarily pauses the turbine during migration. Reduces wildlife mortality by ~80%.

+$120,000

🔇 Low-Noise Blade Design

Special serrated blade edges that reduce noise by about 40%. Helps reduce neighbor complaints near residential areas.

+$85,000

🌱 Habitat Restoration

Plant native wildflowers and grasses around the base. Creates pollinator habitat and offsets some ecological disruption.

+$45,000
Your Decision's Impact
← Make your choices to see results

📝 Reflection Questions

1. What location did you choose, and what was the biggest tradeoff you had to accept? Was there a "perfect" option — why or why not?

2. When is it okay to harm wildlife for clean energy? How should we weigh bird or bat deaths against reducing carbon emissions that cause climate change?

3. Wind turbines face community opposition even though they produce clean energy. What do you think is the best way for communities to make decisions about where energy infrastructure should go?