www.windaction.orgfacts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impactsWindactionhttp://www.windaction.org/articles/c51+50?theme=atomXarayar2006-06-12T02:16:27Z Turbine risks and accountability
Late last year, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC), the state's development agency for renewable energy, awarded a $474,340 grant to Mark Richey Woodworking and Design, Inc. of Newburyport MA, for the construction of a single 600KW (292-foot) industrial-scale wind turbine to be sited adjacent to the business.
Months later, in April 2008, the Town of Newburyport amended its zoning ordinance to allow wind turbines up to 400-feet tall with minimum setbacks of 150 feet from abutting property lines and 300-feet from residential zoning districts. The Richey turbine proposal was submitted to the town shortly thereafter and a special permit was approved in August paving the way for the turbine to be erected. The location of the turbine is 319-feet from the public pedestrian rail trail, 350-feet from heavily-traveled U.S. Route 1, and 800-feet from the nearest residence.
During the town's review hearing on the project, the developer addressed the risk of ice-shed as follows: "[the turbine] was a long way from the rail trail and if the ice did shed it would be directly below on the Richey property."
Wind turbine manufacturers disagree. According to GE Energy's Wind Application Engineering Group "wind energy production in cold climate provides the following formula for calculating a safe distance: 1.5 * (hub height + rotor diameter)". Based on this formula, the proposed turbine could fling ice 560-feet away, well into the area of the rail trail and traffic on Route 1. This e-mail characterizing ice-shed at the Searsburg, Vermont wind facility provides some insight into the problem. (Note: the turbines at Searsburg are 100-feet shorter than that planned for Newburyport).
Blade failure is another safety factor. Scott Larwood, who researched the history of turbine setbacks in California and the probabilities of rotor and blade failures, told Windaction.org that turbines slightly larger than the Richey tower should have a "safe" setback of 300 meters (987-feet). Turbine manufacturer, Vestas, writes in its Mechanical Operating and Maintenance Manual for the V90 3.0MW turbine that a "radius of 400m (1300 ft) from the turbine" is necessary to ensure safety.Â
Blade failures, fire, and turbine collapse do happen and turbine debris can fly considerable distances beyond the setbacks established in the Newburyport ordinance.
When Windaction.org confronted MTC on this issue, public information officer Emily Dahl replied: "Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust's goal is to support the installation of renewable energy projects and expansion of the clean energy industry in Massachusetts for a cleaner environment and stronger economy. The Trust evaluates projects at a high level and seeks to support projects that have a high likelihood of success and are deemed suitable by the communities in which they are located. The Trust is not a permitting agency; rather, permitting decisions for wind turbines are in the hands of each community."
Windaction.org has found a consistent pattern across the U.S. of small communities approving wind turbine proposals with little consideration, or apparent understanding, of the serious safety risks of erecting towers near public areas, rights-of-way, and residences. Windaction.org is particularly critical of MTC for its public advocacy in seeding projects like the Newburyport wind turbine while shirking responsibility for informing the communities of these risks.
(Note: The distances referenced in this editorial pertain to the risks of flying debris from operating turbines. Setbacks to mitigate for turbine noise, shadow flicker and visual impacts are not considered.)
Wind operator shares lessons from Whittlesey ice-shedding.202952009-03-06T18:03:16Z2009-03-06T18:03:16ZA wind developer that became a "lightning rod" for the industry when one of its turbines started shedding ice in December, has revealed its latest strategy for dealing with ice build-up, writes Rachel Johnson. ..."We knew icing would occur but believed our turbines would stop in the event of an ice build up," he said.
The investigation revealed that the most widely available guidelines on icing, including those from the BWEA, had said that wind turbines are designed to shut down in the event of an ice build up.
Sensor fails to stop ice-terror wind turbine .196462009-01-24T11:41:28Z2009-01-24T11:41:28ZA sensor which should switch off a wind turbine in icy conditions has failed - for the second time.
As reported in The Evening Telegraph last week, a faulty sensor on the turbine in King's Dyke, Whittlesey, was blamed for huge shards of ice flying off its blades and crashing into homes and gardens in November. ..."The turbine was shut down immediately after we were alerted, and will remain in this state until further notice."
Turbines could get 'iced up' .195912009-01-20T19:50:51Z2009-01-20T19:50:51ZA Meridian Energy witness was scrutinised for not considering Central Otago's harsh winter, which could shut down wind turbines in times of high demand.
The Environment Court hearing into the $2 billion Project Hayes windfarm continued yesterday with wind energy consultant Graham White appearing for Meridian.
He said in freezing humid condition wind turbines could ice up and no longer operate.
A faulty sensor led to turbine ice shower.195472009-01-17T14:38:31Z2009-01-17T14:38:31ZA faulty sensor on a giant wind turbine is being blamed for huge shards of ice flying off its blades and crashing into nearby homes and gardens.
As The Evening Telegraph reported in November, residents in King's Dyke, Whittlesey, had to take cover for more than four hours when huge lumps of ice, some measuring 2ft, were flung from the giant machine's blades.Failed sensor caused ice shards .195242009-01-16T16:51:18Z2009-01-16T16:51:18ZThe failure of a sensor to halt a giant wind turbine when temperatures fall is blamed for shards of ice crashing into nearby homes in Cambridgeshire.
The Cornwall Light and Power 80m (262ft) turbine was put up in August, near an industrial estate and close to homes in King's Dyke, Whittlesey.
On 29 November chunks of ice started crashing into gardens.
Ice-Tossing Turbines: Myth or Hazard?.191142008-12-11T04:02:25Z2008-12-11T04:02:25ZThe wind industry concedes that, as with all tall things (buildings, for example, or trees), ice and snow can build up and, eventually, fall down, creating a hazard to people and structures below.
But the industry denies that "ice-throwing" - another concern surrounding wind power - is a problem. ...But a 2006 publication by G.E. Energy, a maker of large wind turbines, warns that "rotating turbine blades may propel ice fragments some distance from the turbine - up to several hundred meters if conditions are right."
Wind turbine closed after showering homes with blocks of ice .190662008-12-04T22:38:14Z2008-12-04T22:38:14ZA wind turbine has been switched off and an investigation launched after its frozen blades showered nearby homes with large chunks of ice.
Residents complained when the 260ft wind generator began hurling shards of ice, some measuring two feet long, after the cold snap over the weekend.
Wind turbine's deadly ice shower.190352008-12-02T01:23:43Z2008-12-02T01:23:43ZResidents were left fearing for their safety after shards of melting ice fell on homes and gardens from the blades of a giant wind turbine.
For about four hours people in King's Dyke, Whittlesey, had to take cover as huge lumps - some two feet long - showered them from the 80 metre high tower on Saturday morning.
Resident Peter Randall, whose son's house lies a stone's throw away from the turbine, said: "Somebody is going to get killed. There was huge lumps of ice shooting off and landing everywhere.
Wind turbines were on the agenda again.120472007-10-04T12:27:20Z2007-10-04T12:27:20ZThe pros and cons of building wind turbines near public roads took center-stage at last week's Grant County Commission meeting.
Mountaintop residents cite wind turbine issue, want county to oppose some towers.115152007-08-24T12:05:11Z2007-08-24T12:05:11ZThe reception was somewhat on the chilly side, Tuesday, when a pair of mountaintop residents brought their protests about windpower electricity to the Grant County Commission.
Residents Bruce Halgren and Richard Spicer appeared before commissioners as part of a campaign to reduced the number of windpowered turbines being erected in the community by NedPower and Shell Renewables and Hydrogen.
The pair asked commissioners to oppose six turbines to be constructed within 820 feet of public roadways. They say the turbines present an "ice throw" hazard to motorists on Grassy Ridge Road and state Route 93. Alert over flying ice at wind farms.32092006-05-27T12:35:34Z2006-05-27T12:35:34ZICE forming on wind turbines can fly off, posing a potential danger to passing walkers in "exceptional" weather conditions, ScottishPower has admitted.Wind mills would hurt public - Danger of ice flung from blades in winter would keep outdoors lovers away from land, man testifies..14582006-02-01T23:39:49Z2006-02-01T23:39:49ZBEAR CREEK TWP. – The proposed addition of nine massive wind turbines around Crystal Lake would prevent nature lovers from accessing public land, according to testimony at a zoning hearing on Tuesday.
Opponents say windmill ice a danger.8412005-12-08T16:04:04Z2005-12-08T16:04:04ZBEAR CREEK TWP. – Hiking trails around Crystal Lake could be ideal for snowmobiling and cross country skiing now that Luzerne County owns the property, purchased with public money for the purpose of preservation and recreation.
Wind farm site issues aired.4552005-11-18T13:21:43Z2005-11-18T13:21:43ZPlanning Commission Chairman Brian Keefe had his hands full keeping the overflow audience from drifting away from the siting issue. Many wanted to discuss questions of aesthetics or the merits of wind power. Keefe explained that there would be at least two or three meetings to discuss those other issues.Ice shedding from turbines and public (e-mail).145822008-03-09T19:47:04Z2008-03-09T19:47:04ZHere is a reprint of an email about ice throw at Green Mountain Power's Searsburg wind energy facility in Searsburg Vermont. The email was written by John Zimmerman to an American Wind Energy Association listserv in 2000. Mr. Zimmerman managed the development of the Searsburg facilityProfessor Terry Matilsky On Ice Throw.1492007-01-01T00:33:25Z2007-01-01T00:33:25ZProfessor Terry Matilsky, associate professor of physics and astronomy at Rutgers University, addresses the kinetics of ice throw.A Review of the Science, Literature and Recommendations Concerning Public Safety and Ice Throws from Wind Turbines.36732006-06-01T00:00:00Z2006-06-01T00:00:00ZDuring a recent roundtable discussion concerning wind power projects at the Delaware County Historical Society a participant affiliated with two local wind development companies stated that there were three issues where the health and safety impacts were predictable and avoidable---- ice throws, noise, and flicker. Since the statement was made in the presence of planners who are advising towns in the process of writing regulations to protect the health and safety of residents, I felt that a fuller discussion of the known science of these issues was important, and have prepared this report to that end.
Editor's Note: Dr. Jaffe's presentation to the Town of Meredith Planning Board on the proposed industrial wind plant vis-a-vis Meredith's 'vision' is available via the link below.Public Health and Safety: Deficiencies of the New York State Department of State Presentation to Local Officials Concerning Wind Turbines.39662006-06-01T00:00:00Z2006-06-01T00:00:00ZDr, Kenneth Jaffe's response to the health and safety content of a June 2006 presentation by the NY State Department of State (DOS) in Delware County, NY.
The DOS presentation, which included a discussion of the impact of industrial turbine projects on communities and individuals, is intended to guide local officials in the process of writing regulations. Dr. Jaffe's response addresses what he believes are substantive misstatements, mischaracterizations, biased emphasis and faulty data contained in the DOS presentation.