In Bao’an Town, Ye County, Pingdingshan City, Henan Province, wind turbines stand tall on the hills, spinning gracefully. Situated at the junction of the Tongbai and Funiu mountain ranges, the area benefits from abundant wind resources, attracting numerous wind power projects.
Source: People’s Daily
In Bao’an Town, Ye County, Pingdingshan City, Henan Province, wind turbines stand tall on the hills, spinning gracefully. Situated at the junction of the Tongbai and Funiu mountain ranges, the area benefits from abundant wind resources, attracting numerous wind power projects. These projects have increased collective incomes and brought tangible benefits to villagers. “The Guanzhuang Wind Farm brought over 10 village cooperatives on board as shareholders, distributing more than 3 million yuan in dividends over three years. The funds have been used to improve infrastructure and develop rural industries, achieving significant progress,” said Chen Hanhan, the town’s mayor.
Launched last year, the "Harnessing the Wind in Thousands of Villages" initiative promotes the local development and use of wind power in rural areas, bringing wind energy projects closer to communities. A representative from the New Energy and Renewable Energy Department of the National Energy Administration noted that utilizing scattered, unused non-arable land in rural areas for wind projects helps achieve localized energy generation. When combined with distributed photovoltaic and biomass energy, it establishes a new model for clean energy development in rural areas and optimizes rural energy structures.
According to estimates, a single 5 MW wind turbine can generate an additional 50,000 to 100,000 yuan annually for a village. In Dongguanzhuang Village, Bao’an Town, part of the wind power dividends has been invested in developing the artificial flower industry, creating jobs for over 200 residents. “The wind power dividends helped us pave roads, install streetlights, and provided me with a stable job. I now earn more than 2,000 yuan a month,” said villager Sun Qiuying.
The initiative also drives the growth of the wind power industry. If 1,000 suitable villages are selected each year for pilot projects, with an installed capacity of 20 MW per village, an additional 20,000 MW of wind power capacity could be added annually. This would create new opportunities for the wind power industry while boosting investment and economic growth.