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

Concept for a step-by-step extension of the transmission grid in Germany for the connection and integration of wind turbines onshore and offshore taking into account the production and power station developments and the necessary regulating and reserve power. Introduction: A reasonably priced and reliable electricity supply is an important location factor for the development of an economy. Against this background, it is necessary to investigate the demands placed on the entire system for the generation and transmission of electrical energy, which in future must again be optimised for the integration of the inevitably increasing amount of electricity generated from wind energy. The economic effects resulting from this must also be determined. Maintaining the current level of reliability of supply must be included here as an important boundary condition....

Energy Policy General Impact on Economy Germany

Manhattan (Kansas) benefits greatly from the scenic and intrinsic values of Flint Hills ranching landscapes and the from the stewardship of ranch landowners who struggle to preserve a way of life in the Flint Hills in Riley County and the two adjacent counties to the south and southeast.

Impact on People General Impact on Landscape Impact on Economy Zoning/Planning Kansas

"In summary, there are serious problems with the draft Programmatic Environmental Impact statement (PEIS). The comments that follow are focused primarily on the portions of the draft that deal with the economics of wind energy development. The data and conclusions reflected in those parts of the draft are invalid because:.."

Impact on Economy USA

So, before we proclaim victory against our profligate use of fossil fuels in the last 50 years, politicians and environmental groups might ponder the huge costs in dollars and environmental damage before 20-storey windmills festoon our coastlines, our sea lanes and our beautiful Quebec hills.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on People General Impact on Landscape Impact on Economy Canada

Scientists compare the environmental importance of the tallgrass prairie to that of the rainforest. Its roots act as a carbon sink, cleansing the air of pollution. Its plants and limestone soils purify rainwater. Per acre, it provides more environmental benefits than any other ecosystem in North America.

Impact on People General Impact on Landscape Impact on Economy Kansas

There is less than 4% of native tallgrass prairie left in North America, and two-thirds of it is right here. Once you have experienced the spaciousness and exceptional beauty of open native grasslands, you know there is nothing in the world quite like it. These native grasslands are truly a national as well as a Kansas treasure.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on People General Impact on Landscape Impact on Economy Kansas

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

Author Glenn Schleede addresses the shortcomings of a model developed by NREL (a 'laboratory' of the DOE)that purports to permit the calculation of the state or local economic impact from the building of a potential wind farm. The model, known as "Jobs and Economic Development Impact" (JEDI), allows the user to employ various default assumptions or to change these assumptions to fit a particular wind project. Schleede contends that (1)use of the default assumptions will provide unrealistically high benefits and (2) key factors that offset benefits are not reflected in the model. To illustrate the model's deficiencies, Schleede applies it as well as more realistic assumptions to a proposed project in Highland County, Virginia.

Impact on Economy USA

Topics addressed: (1)uncertainly over future natural gas prices (2)the value of long-term fixed-price contracts for renewable energy (3)what impact do renewables have on gas prices? (4)what impact do high gas prices have on renewables?

Energy Policy General Impact on Economy USA

Government agencies and the wind industry have successfully portrayed wind-generated electricity as "green" and as a price-competitive, potentially significant alternative source of power which could reduce dependence on 'dirty' fuels. While wind generated electricity may make sense in some circumstances, industry and government claims for its widespread use are not currently supported by sound science or economic analysis of costs v. benefits.

Taxes & Subsidies Energy Policy General Impact on Economy USA

Property Values General Impact on Economy Zoning/Planning USA Illinois

This document [DEIS] has not provided any demonstrable public need for the insignificant amount of power this facility is capable of producing. No valid, compelling local (or even statewide) economic reasons were offered to potentially offset the overwhelming negative impacts that will result if built. This DEIS is abundant in quantity, but extremely lacking in quality of scientific analysis and entirely deficient in analysis in certain areas. Various mitigations offered are unacceptable or unworkable. The following are areas of analysis that were either deficient or not performed at all:............

Impact on Wildlife Impact on People Impact on Landscape Impact on Economy Zoning/Planning Washington

The study pointed out that when a community focuses on tourism as a strategy for economic vitality, it is important that they coordinate tourism and other economic development activities. Weak or non-existent planning and zoning, polluting industries, etc. can lower the visitors’ impression and the likelihood of repeat visits. Furthermore, that essential word of mouth advertising, so wonderful when everything works well, can work against a community that fails to keep up its appearance and its offerings (YNG study).

Impact on Landscape Impact on Economy Tourism Kansas

Note that this paper focuses on the true cost of producing and delivering electricity from wind and not on the price paid when a utility buys electricity from a "wind farm." This latter number will often have no relationship to the true cost because of the extensive subsidies available to “wind farm” developers and owners. In fact, in the early years of a “wind farm’s” operation the value of tax breaks and subsidies generally will exceed substantially the income that a “wind farm” owner will receive from the sale of electricity!

General Impact on Economy USA

Study Objectives Primary Analysis Questions: 1) Determine effect of wind turbines on residential property values 2) Determine economic impacts to local economy 3) Estimate new tax revenues for Kittitas County from proposed wind farm. This study along with the REPP study are the two most often cited by wind developers to support their claim that industrial windplants do not adversely affect property values.

Property Values Impact on Economy Washington

To help shed light on key issues, this paper focuses on recent and pending “wind farm” developments in West Virginia.

Impact on Economy West Virginia

On August 20, New York Governor Pataki announced that the state would give $17 million to four private companies to develop five more “wind farms” in various parts of New York, adding to the 3 existing “wind farms.” The proposed “wind farms” raise questions that will need to be considered by New York’s electric customers, taxpayers, and citizens concerned about impairment of property and scenic values and other environmental concerns.

Impact on Economy New York

NFO System Three's report prepared in 2002 for VisitScotland on the potential impact of industrial wind turbines on Scotland's critically important tourist industry. It includes extensive surveys with diverse stakeholders as well as brief overviews of conditions in other european countries.

Impact on Economy Tourism Europe