JOB MARKET PAPER
I estimate that wind energy projects in Illinois generate global environmental benefits that exceed local property value losses by more than a factor of thirty. Yet county governments often reject proposed projects. To assess the electoral incentives of permit-issuing county officials, I link spatial variation in local costs and benefits to precinct-level election results. Following approvals, I find that incumbent county officials lose vote share in precincts that incur property value losses, but gain votes in precincts that benefit from higher property tax revenues.
