Wind Turbine Proximity and Health

Rapid growth of wind energy plays a key role in global efforts to reduce carbon emissions, yet public concerns persist about its potential health effects, particularly through noise exposure. While some studies and media reports suggest that wind turbines may contribute to sleep disturbances, anxiety, and even suicide, existing evidence remains limited and inconclusive. The study presented in this ZEW Research Seminar combines geolocated data from the U.S. Wind Turbine Database with longitudinal survey data on over 120,000 households (2011–2023) and consumer purchasing records to assess whether proximity to wind turbines affects mental and physical health. The authors examine a wide range of outcomes, including depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, headaches, and use of sleep aids and painkillers. Comparing households before and after nearby turbine installations, the study finds little to no evidence of adverse health effects from turbine exposure, and estimates are precise at typical exposure distances. These null results suggest that health-related fears are not borne out in population-level data. Other disamenities such as noise, shadow flicker, and visual intrusion may still affect quality of life even absent measurable health impacts.