To whet your appetite and perhaps inspire wind-power proponents to respond, I will give you a glimpse from the most complete response (answering all the reader-inspired questions) we have received to date.

The response is from Eric Rosenbloom, a science editor and writer living in Vermont. Rosenbloom has been studying large-scale wind energy for four years and since 2006 has been president of National Wind Watch. He also maintains his own Web site, featuring the essay “A Problem With Wind Power,” at www.aweo.org.

Here are a few of the 13 questions with Rosenbloom’s responses:

• What are the criteria used to distinguish between small, medium and large-scale windfarms?

No windfarm is small, because by definition it is made up of 350 to 500-foot high machines, whether three or 300 of them.

Individual turbines are classed by their use as well as by size: to supply a single home or farm (small), a cluster of homes (medium), or the grid (large).

• Is there an average or “ball park” figure when it comes to measuring how much land is required for a windfarm?

Most industry sources, including the AWEA [American Wind Energy Association] assume 60 acres per installed, or rated, megawatt.

• Is there a problem to be addressed regarding what many people describe as the intermittent (only works when the wind blows) nature of wind power?

Yes. That is the primary problem. (The second technical problem is the huge machinery and space required to extract meaningful amounts of the kinetic energy from wind.)

• Is this problem being addressed? How?

In Denmark, most of the wind production is exported to Sweden, where it pumps hydro. Even without pumped hydro capability, hydro generation can be easily switched on and off in response to fluctuating wind production. Newer natural gas plants (as well as diesel plants) can also switch on and off quickly, but at a cost of increased fuel consumption and extra wear and tear. Other thermal plants are more likely to simply be switched to spinning standby, continuing to burn fuel but not generating electricity, because it takes too long to heat them back up again.

Any storage system introduces another layer of inefficiency, further reducing the amount of electricity derived from the wind as well as adding to wind’s own environmental footprint.

• What impact will wind power have on greenhouse emissions? On other forms of pollution?

None. None.

• Some local governments have been prompted to come up with ordinances regarding the siting of wind turbines. Are these types of ordinances needed? If so, what should their primary focus be?

They are needed to protect communities from heedless development driven by state and federal support. As in Wisconsin, local ordinances should primarily address health and safety issues to ensure adequate setbacks and noise limits. Furthermore, as is the purpose of zoning, they should protect the rural character and wild lands of a community, including expectations of quiet and unimpeded views.

The original 13 questions can be found at www.smokymountainnews.com/issues/04_08/04_30_08/out_naturalist.html

– The Naturalist’s Corner, By Don Hendershot

June 11, 2008

smokymountainnews.com

FIRST

I would go to the local NPR and other radio websites and send an email to every one of the hosts of the local talk shows.

The email should be brief.

All it needs to say is that you have a story that is not being covered in your state media and you’re hoping that someone at the local station will be willing to look into it.

It’s OK to send the same email to all of the hosts.

Tell them where you are writing from, give three main points of your story ,and ask someone to call you. Give your phone number.

Be ready to provide other names of people they can speak to.

SECOND

Every single day you need to go wind-watch.org to look at the day’s news postings.

Any time you see a national news story or a story about your state, go to the source of that story (National Wind Watch always provides the link at the end of the story) and:

1. Leave a comment if they are accepting comments (usually there is an option at the end of the article. It requires that you register but that’s not much trouble) The comments should be 250 words or less.

2. Contact the reporter who wrote the story — their email address is usually listed right under their name.

1. Thank them for covering the issue.
2. Ask them if they know about another angle on their story.
3. Give them that angle (your side of the story).
4. Tell them you’d be happy to talk to them about it and may know of others they can contact.
5. Give them your phone number.

The most important thing to know when you contact a reporter is that they are usually overworked people on deadline and they report what they know. The wind industry, developers, and lobbyists are good at contacting the media. You can make up the difference by being dedicated to doing the same.

So if a reporter writes something that makes you angry, you must give them the benefit of the doubt. There is a very good chance they don’t know the other side of the story. If you can present it to them as a “tip” you will have a much better chance of getting some coverage than if you write an angry letter to the editor about their article.

3. Do write letters to the editor! You’ll need to make them 250 words or less. You don’t have to live in the area where the article is printed to write a letter to the editor. Again, you want the newspaper to stay on your side, so when you write your letter, just give the other side of the story. There is no need to condemn a reporter or the newspaper; this is the mistake a lot of people make.

You can comment on articles from all over the country. Leaving comments no matter where they are does a lot.

Every single person has the right to contact the press and to tell you the truth they rely on us to do so.

Lastly, don’t feel downhearted if you don’t hear back from them. It’s like fishing. Mostly you don’t get a bite but sometimes you land some big ones!

The more people who contact the media, the better, so spread the word.

Trying to solve major issues like wind power, property taxes, etc. necessitates dealing with self-serving bureaucrats, double-talking politicians, special interest promoters, the uninformed public, etc. To say the least, this can be stressful, which has mental, social, and physical manifestations and consequences.

Burnout can result from: feelings of lack of control. a perception of insufficient rewards or recognition, an appearance of a divided support community, or little hope of positive change in the situation.

The solutions that I try to employ:

1. Associate primarily with positive people. Being with genuine, upbeat, energetic people is contagious. A healthy dose of optimism can help us make the best of frustrating circumstances.
2. Keep things in perspective. Changing our viewpoint can be very powerful. Is our cup half full or half empty? For instance, give some serious thought to the predicaments billions of other people are facing — like those in Darfur. Maybe our problems aren’t so bad.
3. Read what others did. Learn how other successful people dealt with very difficult situations in their lives (e.g. Lincoln, one of my heroes).
4. Variety is the spice of life. Periodically take breaks, do something you enjoy, go on a vacation, kiss a frog, etc.
5. Have realistic expectations. Frustration is guaranteed if we have unreasonable expectations. Have you ever written down exactly what your expectations are? Go about solving a big problem in small steps.
6. Manage your time well. When challenged with a large task, it is especially important to be organized and efficient.
7. Stay in good health. Rxercise, have a good diet, and get adequate sleep.
8. Work as if everything depended on you, and pray as if everything depended on God. Once we’ve done our best, then leave it in the hands of the Big Guy. Sometimes when things don’t turn out exactly as we’d like them to, hard as it may be to accept at the time, it may really be for the best. That’s the faith part.

An important underlying message: Watch what you’re thinking. This includes paying attention to our Beliefs, which have a profound influence on us. Our thoughts control the way we see things — and how we feel.

john droz, jr. 3/14/08

Download “Handling Frustrations and Disappointments”

1. those written by scientists and technical experts. These are often hard for most people to understand because they use many technical terms, and assume that the reader is fluent in the energy field. Additionally, many authors in this category are not proficient in making their material readable (as that is not their primary objective anyway). These articles are for those looking for a higher quantity of technical matter.
2. those written by writers who have extensively studied the topic. These articles are much easier to read, even though the reader still has to have a working knowledge of some of the basic terms and concepts of the energy field. To further support their material these types of reports are usually well notated.

Both of these types of authors and articles are listed, as both are credible sources for information on this complex topic.

Download “Wind Power Information Sources”

Burlington (Vt.) Free Press

Also see longer slideshow accompanying full-length article.

Numbers are rounded to nearest 100 MW. The numbers may be somewhat inflated owing to occasional multiple interconnection study applications for the same wind energy project (e.g., to evaluate alternative ways to tie into a grid’s transmission system). And, of course, not all of the wind energy projects submitted for interconnection study will be built.

Here is a picture of stockpiled turbine parts in Dansville:

Click here for pictures of the extensive excavating and clearing and the huge construction headquarters.

Dead bats are turning up beneath wind turbines all over the world, but the mystery of why bats die at turbine sites remains unsolved. Is it a simple case of flying in the wrong place at the wrong time? Are bats attracted to the spinning turbine blades? Why do bats die at turbines in such large numbers? Although these questions remain unanswered, potential clues can be found in the patterns of mortality. Foremost, the majority of bats killed by wind turbines are species that migrate; in fact, peaks in mortality tend to coincide with periods of migratory activity. Bats probably follow corridors of high wind during migration, so the sites considered ideal for wind turbines, such as mountain ridges, could actually be places where bat populations funnel through while migrating.

Despite patterns indicating that bat mortality at turbines is somehow associated with migratory species, this phenomenon has not been investigated. At present, it is unclear whether bats killed by turbines are local residents, migrants moving through the area, or a combination of both. Further complicating matters is the fact that some of the species that die in smaller numbers at wind turbines are not known to migrate, although migratory habits of many bat populations are unknown and some of these may actually do so. Addressing these important topics is crucial to future efforts aimed at mitigating the impact of wind turbines on bat populations. In essence, does the problem center on migrating bats, or are migrating bats part of a larger problem? If it turns out that most of the bats killed by wind turbines are actively migrating, it will be easier to direct effective mitigation efforts, because the period of collisions will be shorter and the number of species involved more predictable. Because large numbers of individuals concentrate in small areas during migration, populations of migratory bats may be particularly susceptible to wind turbines, further emphasizing the need to determine their level of involvement.

The USGS is well-poised to answer questions regarding animal migration and the geographic origins of bats killed at wind power facilities. A cross-disciplinary (biology, geology, and geography) approach has put USGS scientists at the forefront of research into bat migration and distribution. For example, prior work by the USGS on the three bat species that die most frequently at wind turbine sites in North America has provided the most comprehensive picture, to date, of their migratory movements across the continent. These distributions have been mapped, as shown in the following links:

Seasonal distribution of hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus) [.WMV format: 300KB]

Seasonal distribution of silver-haired bats (Lasionycteris noctivagans) [.WMV format: 300KB]

Seasonal distribution of red bats (Lasiurus borealis and L. blossevillii) [.WMV format: 300KB]

Stable hydrogen isotope analysis of bat hair as evidence for seasonal molt and long-distance migration

One research tool that is particularly well-suited to studying the origins of bats killed at wind turbines is stable isotope analysis. USGS scientists recently pioneered the application of stable hydrogen isotope analysis to the study of migration in terrestrial mammals and proved the efficacy of the technique for studying the continental movements of bats. Coincidentally, this groundbreaking research focused on the very same species of bat (the hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus) that is killed most frequently at wind turbine sites across North America. Because of this, the USGS is in the unique position of having an existing framework of stable isotope data on which to build.

Continuing on this prior trajectory, USGS scientists are working to develop an active research program aimed at determining the geographic origins of bats killed by wind turbines across North America and to investigate other aspects of this phenomenon. Expertise and experience studying bat migration, combined with an existing infrastructure that promotes collaboration between disciplines, makes USGS well-equipped to effectively address the problem of bat mortality and wind power facilities. Only through further research will we make progress toward minimizing the impact of this new form of sustainable energy on our Nation’s wildlife.

To learn more about this work or opportunities to collaborate, contact

Paul Cryan
USGS Fort Collins Science Center
2150 Centre Ave., Bldg. C
Fort Collins, CO 80526-8118

Tel. 970.226.9389
Fax 970.226.9230
paul_cryan@usgs.gov

fort.usgs.gov