Project Info

Water and Wind: Tradeoffs of Irrigation and Clean Energy

Wind turbines have proliferated the landscape since 2000. However, this source of clean energy has been slow to develop in the windiest portion of the United States; the high plains. Using county level-data, initial analysis suggests the hold-up is in part due to expansive irrigation over the Ogallala aquifer, which is co-located with the windiest areas. This project seeks to better identify and understand this trade-off, particular with an eye towards potential set-back regulations that would exacerbate the development problems amid the center-pivots relative to non-irrigated areas. This project has the potential identify some win-win opportunities for better irrigation practices and wind energy development.

More Information

This project is innovative and few publications exist on the subject. An extended abstract can be provided by myself upon request. However, some tangential research that has been conducted in terms of techniques, issues, and location include:

Hornbeck, Richard, and Pinar Keskin. “The historically evolving impact of the ogallala aquifer: Agricultural adaptation to groundwater and drought.” American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 6.1 (2014): 190-219.

Hornbeck, Richard. “The enduring impact of the American Dust Bowl: Short-and long-run adjustments to environmental catastrophe.” American Economic Review 102.4 (2012): 1477-1507.

Kaffine, Daniel T., and Christopher M. Worley. “The windy commons?.” Environmental and Resource Economics 47.2 (2010): 151-172.

Leonard, Bryan, and Dominic Parker. “Private vs. Government Ownership of Natural Resources: Evidence from the Bakken,” (2019)

Libecap, Gary D., and Steven N. Wiggins. “The influence of private contractual failure on regulation: The case of oil field unitization.” Journal of Political Economy 93.4 (1985): 690-714.

Winikoff, Justin B., and Dominic Parker “The Effects of Land Ownership on Wind Farm Investments,” (2019)

Grand Engineering Challenge: Not applicable

Student Preparation

Qualifications

GIS skills are the most desirable. Additional statistical knowledge would be advantageous (Stata or R).

Time Commitment

4 hours/week

Skills/Techniques Gained

A student researcher will learn broadly how an empirical research project in economics is conducted. The student will gain first hand experience creating and managing data sets. Aspects of machine learning will be applied to code the location of irrigated land. Statistical tests will be utilized to establish causal estimates. If the student is interested, there will also exist opportunities to conduct literature reviews and develop some simple mathematical proofs.

Mentoring Plan

Each week I will meet with the student. In the beginning of the semester, these meetings will be longer to help orient the student to the economic research process, project overview, and introducing the envisioned tasks. Throughout the rest of the project we will navigate the process together. Opportunities for student presentations will be sought where appropriate.