Wind Energy Myths and Facts

Brian AntonichWindustry Program Analyst

Great Lakes Regional Wind InstituteWebinar #1 – Windy Landowner Education

September 13th, 2007

Wind Energy Potential20% Plan From the U.S. DOE

20% of the nation’s electrical needs can be provided by wind!

Currently the US supplies just under 1% of it’s electrical energy needs from wind

Radar and Wind Turbines

Additional InformationWind and Radar

Wind projects close to operating radar sites F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming – two 660-kW turbines

http://www.afcee.brooks.af.mil/ms/msp/center/Vol11No3/10.asp U.S. Navy at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba – four 950-kW turbines

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2005/20050329_342.html U.S. Air Force Space Command on Ascension Island – four 225-kW and two

900-kW turbines http://www.inl.gov/powersystems/ascension_island.shtml U.S. Navy at San Clemente Island Base – three 225-kW turbines

http://www.nelp.navy.mil/pdf_cases/Conservation_Wind_Power_SCI.pdf Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts – near Hull, MA turbines

http://www.ceere.org/rerl/publications/whitepapers/AWEA_Hull_2003.pdf

Experts and resources Gary Seifert – Idaho National Laboratory – Presentation on Wind Radar

Interference http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/pdfs/workshops/2006_summit/seifert.pdf

Laurie Jodziewicz – Communications and Policy Specialist – American Wind Energy Association

Wind Energy andAscetics/Property Values

Concerns brought up at public hearings

Important to understand the underlying issues:

• property values, • perceived public health risks, • visual nuisance, • or money

Land use plays a large factor Agriculture – traditionally low

opposition Forested – wildlife impacts Mountain top – strong visual concerns Recreational – property values and

visual concerns Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Proper Siting Can Balance a Wind Projects Visual Impact

Communities can develop policies to safely and appropriately site projects based on community values and appropriate use of wind systems

Excellent ResourcesWind Project Siting Issues

Siting and Permitting Publications National Wind Coordinating Collaborative http://

www.nationalwind.org/publications/siting.htm

Ryan Wiser – Laurence Berkeley National Laboratory Do Wind Facilities Affect Local Property Values? http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro

/windpoweringamerica/pdfs/workshops/2007_summit/wiser.pdf

Wind Energy and Sound

Wind systems are typically sited in windy areas where the sound of the wind generally masks noise from the machines.

Chart shows noise from wind turbine at approximately 1,000 feet from the machine.

Wind Energy and Sound

Today's turbines are much quieter than older technology. Sound proofing of

nacelle More efficient blades Quieter gear boxes Slower moving rotors

Gearbox and generator in a 1.65 MW wind turbine owned by Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, Iowa.

British Wind Energy Association Noise From Wind Turbines The facts: http://

www.britishwindenergy.co.uk/ref/noise.html Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

A Guide to Noise Control in Minnesota: Acoustical Properties, Measurements, Analysis, Regulation http://proteus.pca.state.mn.us/waste/pubs/noise.pdf

Wind Turbine Manufactures Provide sound emission information for turbines:

http://www.windustry.org/your-wind-project/wind-energy-companies/wind-energy-companies

Excellent ResourcesWind Energy and Sound

Wind Turbines and Safety

Epileptic Seizures:Modern wind turbine blades generally rotate between 10-22 rpm, which is slow.  Epileptic seizures for photosensitive people are triggered by rates of 5 to 30 flashes per second.  The blades of today's wind turbines do not spin quickly enough to cause seizures. At maximum rotational speed, there would be a little more than 1 flash per second.

For more information about photosensitivity and epilepsy visit the Epilepsy Foundation’s website:http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/types/triggers/photosensitivity.cfm

Wind Turbines and Safety Ice Throw:

“Ice throw, while it can occur under certain conditions, is of little danger. Setbacks typically used to minimize noise are sufficient to protect against danger to the public. In addition, ice buildup slows a turbine's rotation and will be sensed by a turbine's control system, causing the turbine to shut down.”

Source: American Wind Energy Association – Wind Energy Myths vs. Factshttp://www.awea.org/pubs/factsheets/050629_Myths_vs_Facts_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Wind Turbines and Safety

Blade Throw:“Blade throws were common in the industry's early years, but are unheard-of today because of better turbine design and engineering…. There are thousands of turbines installed in Europe and…in the U.S. - wind turbine standards ensure a high level of operational reliability and safety in the U.S. and worldwide.”

Spirit Lake, IowaSource: American Wind Energy AssociationWind Energy Myths vs. Factshttp://www.awea.org/pubs/factsheets/050629_Myths_vs_Facts_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Wind EnergyAvian Impacts

“Significant expansion of renewable energy sources such as wind power is needed to reduce pollution from fossil fuels and address global warming…[t]o protect birds, wildlife, and habitat from global warming[.] Fossil fuel power plants account for more than one third of the carbon dioxide emitted by the United States.”

Mike DaultonDirector of Conservation Policy,National Audubon Society

Erickson, et al, 2002, A Summary and Comparison of Bird Mortality from Anthropogenic Causes with and Emphasis on Collisions

http://www.awea.org/pubs/factsheets/050629_Myths_vs_Facts_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Wind Turbines and Bats

Wildlife experts are perplexed about the cause of bat fatalities inflicted by wind turbines.

The National Wind Coordinating Collaborative is actively studying the issue.

For more information about the efforts to understand this problem and other wind/wildlife issues visit the NWCC Wildlife Workgroup website:

http://www.nationalwind.org/workgroups/wildlife/

Photos of Bats: Edward B. Arnett Bat Conservation International

Cost of Wind Energy

Wind energy typically offsets higher cost natural gas fired peaking plants.

Large penetrations of wind complement hydro electric dams in the NW very well.

Cost of Wind Energy

Source: US Department of Energy: Annual Report of U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost and Performance Trends:2006http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy07osti/41435.pdf

Cost of Wind Energy

Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Annual Report of U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost and Performance Trends:2006http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy07osti/41435.pdf

Cost of Wind EnergyMinnesota Wind Integration Study

Full study report and results of other U.S. Wind Integration Studies can be found by visiting the Utility Wind Integration Group Website: http://www.uwig.org/

Wind Energy and Subsidies

Every energy technology is subsidized. Wind energy is no exception. Wind receives a tax credit that provides an inflation-adjusted 1.5 cents for each kilowatt-hour generated, over the first ten years of the project. This credit reduces the tax liability of a wind farm, but is not a subsidy of public money flowing to the wind farm owner.

Subsidies that other energy sources receive: tax deductions loan guarantees liability insurance leasing of public lands at below market prices.

Additional indirect subsidies include federal money for research and development programs and policy provisions in federal legislation.Source: American Wind Energy Association – Wind Energy Myths vs. Facts

http://www.awea.org/pubs/factsheets/050629_Myths_vs_Facts_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Thanks and Questions?

Brian AntonichWindustry Program Analyst

Brian’s email: brian@windustry.orgPhone: 612-870-3465

www.windustry.org