Some important documents about industrial wind energy
[ Click here to visit the complete National Wind Watch Resource Library ]
Selected papers [ legal | technical ]
"A problem with wind power," Eric Rosenbloom [90-KB PDF]
"The wayward wind," Jon Boone [151-KB PDF]
"Wind turbine syndrome," Nina Pierpont, testimony before the New York State Legislature Energy Committee, March 7, 2006 [68-KB PDF]
"Wind power in West Denmark. Lessons for the UK," Vic Mason, October 2005
Technical papers [ top | legal ]
The burden on other energy sources in integrating wind power -- which is largely unpredictable, nondispatchable, intermittent, and highly variable -- on the electricity grid cancels out much, if not all, of the theoretical benefit.
"The low benefit of industrial wind," Eric Rosenbloom [57-KB PDF]
"Less for More: the Rube Goldberg Nature of Industrial Wind Development," Jon Boone [332-KB PDF]
"Utility-scale wind power: impacts of increased penetration (working paper)," Lawrence Pitt, G. Cornelis van Kooten, Murray Love, and Ned Djilali, Resource and Environmental Economics and Policy Analysis (REPA) Research Group, Department of Economics, University of Victoria (British Columbia, Canada), June 2005 [250-KB PDF]
"Integrating wind power in the European power systems," Union for the Co-ordination of Transmission of Electricity [150-KB PDF]
"Impact of wind power generation," Irish National Grid [169-KB PDF]
"Wind report 2004," Eon Netz, Germany [343-KB PDF]
"Wind report 2005," Eon Netz, Germany [1.05-MB PDF]
"Planning of the grid integration of wind energy," German Energy Agency (Dena) [213-KB PDF]
"New challenges for the transmissions system operator," Eltra, Denmark [1.18-MB PDF]
"Danish wind: Too good to be true?," David J. White, The Utilities Journal, July 2004, pp. 37-39 [43-KB PDF]
"Why wind power works for Denmark," Hugh Sharman, Civil Engineering 158, May 2005, pp. 66-72 [563-KB PDF]
"The impact of large scale wind power production on the Nordic electricity system," Hannele Holttinen [3.44-MB PDF]
"Estimation of real emissions reduction caused by wind generators," O. Liik et al., International Energy Workshop, June 24-26, 2003, Laxenburg, Austria [356-KB PDF]
Legal documents [ top | technical ]
Note that in the lease and easement (a.k.a. "forbearance") agreements, the wind companies pay people to sign away their right to complain about noise, flicker, etc. -- phenomena the companies insist are not a problem.
Also see the Contracts and Ordinances sections in the Resource Library.
Grant of easement and easement agreement, Hays Wind, LLC (Ellis Cty., Kan.) [382-KB RTF]
Lease for construction of wind turbine generators, Flat Rock Wind Power, LLC (Tug Hill, N.Y.) [2.29-MB PDF]
Neighbor agreement, Hays Wind, LLC (Ellis Cty., Kan.) [75-KB RTF]
Grant of neighbor easements, Flat Rock Wind Power, LLC (Tug Hill, N.Y.) [893-KB PDF]
Windplant easement agreement, Noble Environmental Power, LLC [1.18-MB PDF]
Lease option agreement, Zilkha Renewable Energy, LLC [904-KB PDF]
Wind farm neighbor easement agreement, Zilkha Renewable Energy, LLC [566-KB PDF]
Property Value Assurance Plan, Canastota Wind Power, LLC [157-KB PDF]
Bethany, N.Y., Wind Turbine Study Committee Report [2.24-MB PDF] -- Extensive research of environmental, health & safety, legal, and financial issues of large-scale wind energy installations, with recommendations
Union, Wisc., Large Wind Turbine Citizens Committee Setback Recommendations Report [24-MB PDF]
Union, Wisc., Wind Energy Systems Licensing Ordinance [5.0-MB PDF] -- 1/2-mile setback from homes and workplaces, 35-dBA/38-dBC noise limit -- very well researched and thorough
Rensselaerville, N.Y., Commercial Wind Power Facilities Law [27-KB DOC] -- prohibition of all wind turbines >100 kW -- based on Wind Study Committee Recommendations Report [327-KB DOC]
Phillips, Me., Wind Energy Facility Ordinance [346-KB PDF] -- 30-dBA/50dBC noise limit at property line
Trempealeau County, Wisc.: Wind Generator and Wind Generating Facility Ordinance [146-KB PDF] -- 1-mile setback from homes and workplaces, 40-dBA noise limit
Carteret County Tall Structure Ordinance [308-KB PDF] -- setback of 6 ft per ft of total height, setback measured from farthest lateral extension of blade to property line
Stafford, N.Y.: Zoning Law: Wind Energy Systems [1.5-MB ZIP] -- 175-ft height limit plus decent setbacks and excellent noise limits
Cherry Valley, N.Y.: Local Law: Wind Energy Facilities [213-KB HTM]
Otsego County, Mich.: "Zoning ordinance concerning wind turbine generators and anemometer towers" [56-KB Word Doc] -- excellent setbacks
Showano County, Wisc.: "Wind Energy Conversion System Ordinance" [216-KB Word Doc] -- excellent noise limits
Malone, N.Y., town code: "Wind energy facilities" [760-KB PDF]
Manitowoc County, Wisc., "Large Wind Energy System Ordinance" [309-KB PDF]
