The Maine Tourism Association provided this testimony in support of Maine bill LD 901, a bill that calls for a I5-mile buffer zone and visual impact assessment on expedited wind energy development in order to protect some of the most popular tourist desitinations in the State. Maine tourism supports 16% of the state's employment and brings in $8.8 billion in total sales annually.  

Impact on Views Tourism Maine

According to this newest study by researchers at North Carolina State University, an offshore wind farm erected off the coast of North Carolina would reduce coastal rentals and potentially harm tourism, even if the energy project was placed at a maximum distance from shore. The results of the study found 54 percent of survey participants would not be willing to rent a home if the turbines were visible at all, regardless of their distance from the coast. The abstract of the report is provided below. The full report can be accessed by clicking the links on this page. , 

Impact on Landscape Property Values Tourism North Carolina

To NLRA Members and Stewards of the Newfound Lake Watershed, regarding the proposed Wild Meadows Wind Project: The NLRA has been paying close attention to the proposed Wild Meadows Wind project, and we are taking it very seriously. Several NLRA Trustees attended the first meeting of Newfound Wind Watch. During that meeting we stated that this topic would be thoroughly discussed at a planned upcoming Board meeting. Trustees and staff met with Wind Watch leadership in late October and reiterated our commitment. Staff and Trustees attended the Iberdrola presentation in Alexandria on November 14th to continue gathering information At our recent Board meeting, after careful consideration and deliberation, the NLRA Trustees unanimously approved the following position:

Pollution Impact on Landscape Tourism New Hampshire

Impact on Economy Tourism Europe USA

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

Impact on Wildlife Noise Impact on People Property Values Taxes & Subsidies General Impact on Landscape Impact on Economy Tourism USA Pennsylvania

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

Impact on Wildlife Noise Impact on People Property Values Taxes & Subsidies General Impact on Landscape Impact on Economy Tourism Pennsylvania USA

BBC Research & Consulting's 2005 report for the National Wind Coordinating Committee that studies 9 wind plant sitings in an effort to identify circumstances that distinguish welcomed projects from projects that were not accepted by communities.

Energy Policy Safety Icing Injury Impact on People Lighting Structural Failure Taxes & Subsidies Property Values Noise Impact on Landscape Technology Impact on Birds Impact on Bats Impact on Wildlife Impact on Views Erosion Pollution General Impact on Landscape Impact on Economy Tourism USA

The Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University has studied the Cape Wind proposal in considerable detail, and offers the following comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Reference file no. NAE-2004-338-1: 1. A systematic cost-benefit analysis – missing from the DEIS – shows that, with 90% confidence, the costs of the project outweigh the benefits by between $83 million and $333 million, with a mean measure of net cost of $209 million (equivalent to 2.0 cents/kWh produced). 2. The DEIS conclusion of “no adverse impacts to tourism and recreation” is not supported by the data. 3. The DEIS conclusion that the project would not adversely affect property values is based on a flawed study, ignores other research, and is untenable. 4. The DEIS estimates of the value of health improvements are greatly exaggerated (at $53 million annually). Our own estimates show health improvements of $7 million, and even this may be overstated.

Property Values Impact on Economy Tourism Massachusetts

The Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University has studied the Cape Wind proposal in considerable detail, and offers the following comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Reference file no. NAE-2004-338-

Pollution Property Values General Impact on Economy Tourism Massachusetts

Written by Douglas Giuffre, Jonathan Haughton, David Tuerck and John Barrett, this report analyses in economic terms the costs and benefits of a proposed 130 turbine wind plant in Nantucket Sound. It concludes that the economic costs substantially exceed the associated economic gains. This is a follow-up study to one published by Beacon Hill in October 2003 entitled "Blowing in the Wind: Offshore Wind and the Cape Cod Economy"

Property Values Energy Policy General Impact on Economy Tourism Massachusetts

Researched and written by Eleanor Tillinghast of Green Berkshires Inc. this is a comprehensive study of the probable impact of industrial wind plants on the rural character, quality-of-life and economy of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts. Specific issues addressed include visual aesthetics, tourism, property values, public roads and public safety.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on People Property Values General Impact on Landscape Impact on Economy Tourism Massachusetts

I have reviewed Beacon Hill’s two reports, i.e. 'Free But Costly: An Economic Analysis of A Wind Farm in Nantucket Sound" (March 2004) and ‘Blowing in the Wind' (October 2003) which focused primarily on tourism and property values. The complete reports are available from www.beaconhill.org. The following consists of two parts. Part I addresses some key findings as well as some thoughts on methodology. Part II focuses on what may or may not be applicable to Glebe.

Property Values Tourism Vermont

Written by Jonathan Haughton, Douglas Giuffre and John Barrett, this report addresses the prospective impact on the Cape Cod economy of 130 wind turbines in Nantucket Sound. The study includes the responses of tourists and residents to the aesthetics of the proposed project as well as the result of a survey among tourists on the degree to which the project would influence their desire to visit the area. The authors conclude that 'caution' is in order. A follow-up study entitled "Free but Costly" An Economic Analysis of a Wind Farm in Nantucket Sound" was published in March 2004.

Property Values Tourism Massachusetts