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Visibility and Visual Impact of Off-Shore Wind Turbines
Great Lakes Wind Energy Development in New York State
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Turbine Components
Tower - Tubular steel structure. Typically 70-100 meters tall
Rotor - 3 Blades spinning at approximately 10-20 RPM. Typically 80-100+ meters in diameter
Nacelle - Generally rectangular. Approximately 10 meters long, 3 meters wide, and 3 meters tall
Total Height - 120-150 Meters (390-490 ft)
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545’
436’
327’
218’
109’
413’ rotor diameter
ELEV 0’
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Turbines in the Landscape
• Very tall structures• Moving rotor• Multiple turbines within a project• These factors result in a high level of visibility in most locations
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Turbines in the Landscape
• High visibility does not always equate to adverse visual impact.
• Based on public reaction to existing projects, wind turbines are not viewed in the same way as other highly visible infrastructure projects.
Communications Tower Power Plant Wind Power Facility
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Turbines in the Landscape
Turbines can be perceived as compatible with certain landscapes
Especially working agricultural landscapes
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Turbines in the Landscape
In other settings, turbines may appear more out of character.
Wooded Ridge Tops Off Shore Facilities
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Factors Affecting Turbine VisibilityTurbine Color
Not many options. Typically white or off-white: Works well under most conditions.
Clear Partly Cloudy
Overcast
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Factors Affecting Turbine VisibilityProximity to viewer
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Factors Affecting Turbine VisibilityProximity to viewer
Offshore projects are relatively far away from most viewers
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Front - Lighting Back - Lighting
Factors Affecting Turbine VisibilityLighting Conditions
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Clear Skies Hazy Skies
Factors Affecting Turbine VisibilityWeather Conditions
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Generally an unavoidable adverse visual impact, but can be minimized
Late Afternoon Early Evening
Twilight Night
Factors Affecting Turbine VisibilityFAA Lighting
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Visual Impact Assessment Process
• InventoryofVisual/SensitiveResources
• AnalysisofPotentialProjectVisibility
• AccurateIllustrationofProject
• VisualImpactAssessment
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Inventory of Visually Sensitive Resources
• DefinedbyNYSDECVisualPolicy
• Historicsites
• Parkandrecreationalfacilities
• State/Federallydesignatedresources
• Areasofhighintensitylanduse
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Analysis of Potential Project VisibilityViewshed Analysis
• Canevaluatealargearea:5-10MilesTypically
• Usedtohelpdefineareasthatrequireadditionalstudy
• Worstcaseanalysis:basedontopographyonly
• Limitedvalueforshorelineareas
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Analysis of Potential Project VisibilityShoreline Visibility Study
NORTH
July 2006
Prepared By:Figure 3.12-5 - Shoreline Visibility Study
Potential Project Visibility Within Defi ned Distance Buffers
Cape Wind Energy Project
Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
- 0-6 Mile BufferLegend:
- 6-12 Mile Buffer
- 12-18 Mile Buffer
- Proposed Project Boundary
- Nantucket Sound Facing Shoreline
- Nantucket Sound Facing Shoreline with Potential Views to Project Site
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Analysis of Potential Project VisibilitySeascape Horizon Study
NORTH
July 2006
Prepared By:Seascape Horizon Study
Figure 1 - Sheet 4 of 14 - Hyannis Port, Barnstable
Cape Wind Energy Project
Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
- Cone of Potentially Visible Seascape Horizon
- Cone of Potentially Visible Turbines within Seascape Horizon
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Analysis of Potential Project VisibilityField Evaluation/Documentation
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• Shouldhaveadefinedselectionprocess
• NeedstoberepresentativeofLandscapeSimilarityZones
• Needstoshowprojectfromvariousdistancesanddirections
• Shouldillustratedifferentambientlightingconditions
• Shouldincludesensitivesitesandareasoflocalconcern
Accurate Illustration of ProjectSelection of Viewpoints
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• Only defensible way to create photo simulations
• Useproposedturbinespecificationsandcoordinates
• Useviewpointdataobtainedduringfieldwork(knowthelimitsofitsaccuracy)
• Modelsneedtobeaccurateandshouldincludeallproposedprojectcomponents
• Materials/colorshouldmatchthoseofproposedaction
• Allsupportdatacanbemadeavailableuponrequest
Accurate Illustration of ProjectComputer Modeled Simulations
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Accurate Illustration of ProjectSimulation Methodology
Photos are selected to illustrate typical views of the proposed project that will be available torepresentativeviewer/usergroupsfromrepresentativeshorelinesettings
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Accurate Illustration of ProjectSimulation Methodology
A three-dimensional computer model of the project is built based on proposed turbine specificationsandtowersitecoordinates
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Accurate Illustration of ProjectSimulation Methodology
Aerial photographs, survey (Total Station) data, and sub-meter accuracy GPS data col-lectedinthevicinityoftheviewpointsareusedtoalignthephotowiththe3Dmodel
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Accurate Illustration of ProjectSimulation Methodology
Blow-up of the camera location and alignment points documented with the sub-meter accuracy GPS and Total Station
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Accurate Illustration of ProjectSimulation Methodology
These data are superimposed over photographs from each of the viewpoints, and minor camera changes are made to align all known reference points within the view
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Accurate Illustration of ProjectSimulation Methodology
Theforegroundstakesareremovedandtheproposedexteriorcolor/finishoftheturbinesisthenaddedtothemodel.Theappropriatesunangleissimulatedbasedonthespecificdate, time and location at which each photo was taken
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Visual Impact Assessment
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Visual Impact Assessment
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• Analysisisscientific:Canberepeatedandchecked
• Conclusionsbasedondefensibleanalysis
• Canhelpdefineifmitigationisnecessaryandeffective
• Superiortothe“judgeforyourself”approach
Visual Impact AssessmentOverall Benefits of VIA Process
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• Commonconcernonmostwindprojectsincludingproposedoff-shoreprojects
• Concerngenerallyfocusedonpropertieswithin2milesofturbines
• Relatestopotentialvisual,noise,shadowflickerandsleepdisturbanceeffects
Effect on Property Values
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• RenewableEnergyPolicyProject(REPP),2003
• RoyalInstituteofCharteredSurveyers,2007
• Hoenetal.,2009
Effect on Property Values
Three most commonly cited studies:
Most recent study:
• Hinman,2010
All these studies involved statistical analysis of real estate data, and all concluded that operating wind farms do not have an adverse impact on property values
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• Noneofthepreviousstudiesaddressedoff-shoreprojects
• Limitedinformation-allfromEurope
• PositivereactionincoastalresortcommunitiesinDenmarkwithviewsoftheHornsRevproject
Effect on Property Values
(Leaning, 2003)
Image courtesy of www.hornsrev.dk
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Effect on Property Values
Citations
Firestone, J. and W. Kempton. 2007. Public Opinion about Large Offshore Wind Power: Underlying Factors. Energy Policy 35(3): 1584-98.
Hinman, Jennifer L. 2010. Wind Farm Proximity and Property Values: A Pooled Hedonic Regression Analysis of Property Values in Central Illinois.Availableat:http://renewableenergy.illinoisstate.edu/wind/publications/2010%20Wind%20Farm%20Proximity%20and%20Property%20Values.pdf.May2010.
Hoen, B., R. Wiser, P. Cappers, M. Thayer, and G. Sethi. 2009. The Impact of Wind Power Projects on Residential Property Values in the United States: A Multi-Site Hedonic Analysis.Availableat:http://eetd.lbl.gov/ea/ems/reports/lbnl-2829e.pdf.December2009.
Leaning, J. 2003. Danes extol wind farm. Cape Cod Times. Published: November 11, 2003.
Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP). 2003. The Effect of Wind Development on Local Property Values. Availableat:http://www.repp.org/articles/static/1/binaries/wind_online_final.pdf.May2003.
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). 2007. What is the impact of wind farms on house prices? Availableat:http://www.rics.org/site/download_feed.aspx?fileID=3524&fileExtension=PDF.February2007.