Documents
Category:
General and Impact on Economy
Browse in :
All
> Topics
> General
(298)
All > Topics > Impact on Economy (56)
Any of these categories
All > Topics > Impact on Economy (56)
Any of these categories
Mr. Sean Cox presented evidence at the Resource Management Act hearing for the Te Uku wind farm which directly countered the economic case for the wind farm, its carbon emissions justification, the available wind resource at Te Uku, adverse noise and health effects, and challenged the expertise of some of wind developer Wel's consultants. When completed, Wel counsel Simon Berry asked that the hearing be adjourned to permit the developer time to respond to Mr. Cox's submission. An excerpt of Mr. Cox's testimony is included below. The full transcript can be accessed by clicking on one of the two links provided.
Some elements to consider in policy, planning, and public relations
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
Impact on Landscape|
Impact on People|
Safety|
Zoning/Planning|
USA]
The Wind Does Not Always Blow Freely- The Economics of Industrial Wind Energy
February, 2007
by Hugh T. Kemper, Londonderry (VT)
For those who think developers' feverish promotion of wind energy is about saving the planet, think again. The old adage follow the money explains their zeal much more than do its purported benefits. Worse, the enormous investment returns available to wind developers for an unreliable energy source that offers negligible emissions benefits stem largely from federal and state subsidies paid for by taxpayers and rate payers. Go figure.
Wabaunsee County (KS) Court Ruling Prohibits Large Wind Turbines
February 28, 2007
by District Court of Wabaunsee County
Also filed under [
Property Values|
Kansas]
Noise Radiation from Wind Turbines Installed Near Homes: Effects on Health
January, 2007
by Barbara J. Frey and Peter J. Hadden
Wind turbines are large industrial structures that create obtrusive environmental noise pollution when built too close to dwellings. This annotated review of evidence and research by experts considers the impact of industrial-scale wind turbines suffered by those living nearby. First, the paper includes the comments by some of the families affected by wind turbines, as well as coverage in news media internationally. The experiences described put a human face to the science of acoustics.
Second, the paper reviews research articles within the field of acoustics concerning the acoustic properties of wind turbines and noise. The acoustic characteristics of wind turbines are complex and in combination produce acoustic radiation. Next, the paper reviews the health effects that may result from the acoustic radiation caused by wind turbines, as well as the health effects from noise, because the symptoms parallel one another. Primarily, the consequent health response includes sleep deprivation and the problems that ensue as a result. In addition, this paper reviews articles that report research about the body's response not only to the audible noise, but also to the inaudible components of noise that adversely affect the body's physiology. Research points to a causal link between unwanted sound and sleep deprivation and stress, i.e., whole body physiologic responses.
These injuries are considered in the context of Human Rights, where it is contended that the environmental noise pollution destroys a person's effective enjoyment of right to respect for home and private life, a violation of Article 8 of the European Court of Human Rights Act. Furthermore, the paper considers the consequent devaluation of a dwelling as a measure of part of the damage that arises when wind turbines are sited too close to a dwelling, causing acoustic radiation and consequent adverse health responses.
The review concludes that a safe buffer zone of at least 2km should exist between family dwellings and industrial wind turbines of up to 2MW installed capacity, with greater separation for a wind turbine greater than 2MW installed capacity.
Second, the paper reviews research articles within the field of acoustics concerning the acoustic properties of wind turbines and noise. The acoustic characteristics of wind turbines are complex and in combination produce acoustic radiation. Next, the paper reviews the health effects that may result from the acoustic radiation caused by wind turbines, as well as the health effects from noise, because the symptoms parallel one another. Primarily, the consequent health response includes sleep deprivation and the problems that ensue as a result. In addition, this paper reviews articles that report research about the body's response not only to the audible noise, but also to the inaudible components of noise that adversely affect the body's physiology. Research points to a causal link between unwanted sound and sleep deprivation and stress, i.e., whole body physiologic responses.
These injuries are considered in the context of Human Rights, where it is contended that the environmental noise pollution destroys a person's effective enjoyment of right to respect for home and private life, a violation of Article 8 of the European Court of Human Rights Act. Furthermore, the paper considers the consequent devaluation of a dwelling as a measure of part of the damage that arises when wind turbines are sited too close to a dwelling, causing acoustic radiation and consequent adverse health responses.
The review concludes that a safe buffer zone of at least 2km should exist between family dwellings and industrial wind turbines of up to 2MW installed capacity, with greater separation for a wind turbine greater than 2MW installed capacity.
AES Corporation: Wind Generation Review
December 11, 2006
by Ned Hall, Vice President, Renewable Generation
Throwing Caution to the Wind: the growing threat of Industrial Wind Energy Development in Pennsylvania to Wildlife, Habitat and Public Lands
October 1, 2006
by Dan Boone
This is a comprehensive, well documented and thoughtful presentation on a wide range of industrial wind issues by Dan Boone, Consulting Conservation Biologist, at the public meeting held by Save Our Allegheny Ridges in Bedford, PA on September 18, 2006
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
Impact on Landscape|
Impact on People|
Noise|
Property Values|
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
Tourism|
USA|
Pennsylvania]
Direct Testimony of Charles Simmons to the Virginia State Commission on behalf of Highland Citizens
September 1, 2006
by Charles Simmons
Q. Please state your name and position.
A. My name is Charles Simmons and I have been retained to provide assistance to Highland Citizens in regard to the application of Highland New Wind Development, LLC to construct a wind generation facility in Highland County.
Editor's Note:This testimony provides an excellent description of how a grid works- particularly the role of 'economic dispatch' and 'spinning reserves'. It also addresses the methodology for estimating emissions savings and numerous other topics of interest.
A. My name is Charles Simmons and I have been retained to provide assistance to Highland Citizens in regard to the application of Highland New Wind Development, LLC to construct a wind generation facility in Highland County.
Editor's Note:This testimony provides an excellent description of how a grid works- particularly the role of 'economic dispatch' and 'spinning reserves'. It also addresses the methodology for estimating emissions savings and numerous other topics of interest.
Also filed under [
Technology|
Impact on Wildlife|
Impact on Landscape|
Impact on Views|
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
Energy Policy|
Virginia]
Representative Mollohan's Letter to the Public Service Commission of West Virginia
July 26, 2006
by U.S. Congressman Alan B. Mollohan (WV)
WV's Congressman Mollohan submitted a letter on July 26, 2006 to the WV Public Service Commission (PSC) concerning the Beech Ridge wind energy project proposed for Greenbrier County, WV by Chicago-based Invenergy, Inc. This wind energy developer successfully pushed through a windplant in Wisconsin nearby the Horicon Marsh - a globally-significant wildlife area and National Wildlife Refuge - despite the widespread outcry by national and local wildlife groups who opposed such close siting.
Mollohan's letter points out that Invenergy disregarded recommendations by the US Fish and Wildlife Service for multi-year pre-construction studies regarding the project's potential impacts on migratory birds and bats. He also observed that although WV's one operating wind project in Tucker County has been the site of record-setting bat mortality due to collision with turbine blades, the project operator (FPL Energy) has cut off access to the site for scientific study or investigation, even by the National Research Council/National Academies committee charged by the U.S. Congress to study the environmental impacts of wind projects in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands (see footnote #2 in his letter).
Mollohan's letter points out that Invenergy disregarded recommendations by the US Fish and Wildlife Service for multi-year pre-construction studies regarding the project's potential impacts on migratory birds and bats. He also observed that although WV's one operating wind project in Tucker County has been the site of record-setting bat mortality due to collision with turbine blades, the project operator (FPL Energy) has cut off access to the site for scientific study or investigation, even by the National Research Council/National Academies committee charged by the U.S. Congress to study the environmental impacts of wind projects in the Mid-Atlantic Highlands (see footnote #2 in his letter).
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
Impact on Birds|
Impact on Landscape|
Noise|
Energy Policy|
Zoning/Planning|
West Virginia]
Because time seems to be running out on fossil fuels and the lure of
non-polluting windpower is so seductive, some people are now promoting windpower
initiatives at any cost, without investigating potential negative consequences-- and with
no apparent knowledge of even recent environmental history......Throughout my experience, I could not substantiate a single claim developers made for
industrial wind energy, including the one justifying its existence: that massive wind
installations would meaningfully reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. When you
understand this, you realize the wind business is not really that complex. But there are a
lot of complicated issues swirling around it that obscure and distract from this main point,
issues such as global warming, property values, the nature of wind leases, local revenues
and taxes, wildlife, natural views, and a host of others. So how does one know the truth of
it all? How does one go about separating the reality from spin?
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
Impact on Birds|
Impact on Bats|
Impact on People|
Noise|
Property Values|
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
New York]