Industrial wind energy is an environmental imposter that increases global warming emissions. The imposture is worsened by ripping off French consumers.

In effect, not only does it not reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but the more wind energy, the more need for thermal plants that emit greenhouse gases.

Contents
1. Industrial wind energy is not able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Industrial wind energy must be balanced by fossil fuel–fired plants.
3. Why are there advocates of industrial wind energy, and what motivates them?
4. The racket in France.
5. Orders of magnitude of the scam.
6. The promoters want even more profit.
7. Wind energy and permanent employment.
8. Other nuisances.
9. Politics.
10. Annexes.

Telecharger «L’eolien industriel en France»

Pour un sommaire français, voir à Fédération Environnement Durable (cliquer).

English summary by Mark Duchamp:

A five-year monitoring report of 8 wind turbines near the coast in Vendée, France, by the French ornithological society LPO (Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux), discloses the following:

bird mortality: 5.7 to 33.8 per turbine/year, depending upon the year and the estimation method. It is estimated that 20% were migrating birds.

bat mortality: 6.0 to 26.7 per turbine/year, depending upon the year and the estimation method. It is thought that many of them were migrating. The bats showed no external injury. But the autopsies revealed that their internal organs had been destroyed, possibly as a result of high air pressure created by the blades. This is what we learn from the abstract and from an enclosing email from FED, which reports the words of a researcher 4 years ago at an ornithology meeting in the region (body imploded, internal organs destroyed):

“Il y a 4 ans, un chercheur aux journées internationales de l’avifaune à Menigoute dans les Deux Sevres avait dit: ‘lorsque l’on dissèquent ces cadavres, on dirait qu’ils ont implosés, l’aspect exterieur est intact et ce sont les organes internes qui ont été détruits’.”

Télécharger/Download “Evaluation de l’impact du parc e?olien de Bouin (Vende?e) sur l’avifaune et les chauves-souris”

“If the expansion of wind energy is a good, it should not be translated, on the ground, by nuisance, including visual, so important to residents, or by disfiguration of the neighboring countryside.

“Moreover, the time when people could impose projects on the public is over. The application of information and transparency is today essential. Every elected official has the duty not only to make law, but also to encourage citizen participation.

“These are the reasons for which the present proposed law proposes to require, before any wind turbine construction project subject to public inquiry (wind turbines more than 50 meters tall), a referendum of the voters. The outcome of this referendum, which would concern not only the town of installation, but also those that would be visually affected by the project, would not legally require the concerned municipal councils who would remain masters of their decision. The area covered by the referendum would be determined by the communes concerned on the basis of the report of the investigating commissioner, who would be required to take into account the visual impact of the installation. Each commune would have the choice of holding the referendum on all of its jurisdiction or only in the geographic areas visually affected by the project.”

Téléchargez/Download “Loi de consultation à l’implantation d’éoliennes”

Sirs,

Following the consultation that you asked for, here is the estimate that we propose for the dismantling and demolition of wind turbines in the commune of Saint Etienne de Lugdares.

The dismantling and demolition require the presence on site of:

• One 700-tonne crane and two 50-tonne cranes.
• A Copex CVM 500 metal press and shredder.
• A team of five people for 30 working days for unbolting, blow-torching, and shredding the metal parts.
• Class II disposal of the nonrecyclable parts of the turbine. The nearest disposal site appears to be in Bellegarde.

The recoverable iron remains in our possession.

The total for an operation of this scope comes to 900,000 Euros [c. US$1,350,000] before taxes. The company that we would give the work order to must be assured of timely payment for the operation. A deposit of 30% will be required to start.

Our price is for a wind turbine of 3 megawatts. If there are several turbines of the same type to dismantle at the same time, the price may be reduced because of the presence already of the 700-tonne crane.

This price applies for the year 2008 and concerns only those wind turbines situated in the commune near the city. Demolition of the concrete footings is not considered in this estimate. [emphasis added]

This estimate does not take into account expenses engendered by obligations imposed on us by the DDE [infrastructure department] for the route or for setting up the various materials on the site. These expenses would be in addition to the stated estimate.

We remain at your service, for more information, and we ask that you accept, sirs, our sincere greetings.

J. Malafosse
President
Saint-Pierre S.A.S.

Télécharger/Download “Devis pour la démontage et la démolition des éoliennes”

Thanks to Fédération Environnement Durable for providing this document.

Does large-scale development of industrial wind energy actually reduce the consumption of fossil fuels or emission of CO₂?

Comparison of per-capita wind and thermal electricity production and CO₂ emissions in Germany, Denmark, Spain, and France.

Germany — most industrial wind facilities in the world (18,400 MW in 2005) –
2005: 10.6 tonnes CO₂ per capita, 6.4 tonnes from electricity
+190% per capita production from wind from 2000 to 2005
+9% per capita thermal electricity production from 2000 to 2005
+1% per capita CO₂ from electricity 2000 to 2005

Denmark — highest percentage of industrial wind in the world (18% of production) –
2005: 9.3 tonnes CO₂ per capita, 5.5 tonnes from electricity
+54% per capita production from wind from 2000 to 2005
−8% per capita thermal electricity production from 2000 to 2005
−11% per capita CO₂ from electricity 2000 to 2005

Spain — second most industrial wind facilities in the world (10,000 MW in 2005) –
2005: 8.5 tonnes CO₂ per capita, 3.8 tonnes from electricity
+317% per capita production from wind from 2000 to 2005
+41% per capita thermal electricity production from 2000 to 2005
+10% per capita CO₂ from electricity 2000 to 2005

France — virtually no industrial wind (760 MW in 2005) –
2005: 6.6 tonnes CO₂ per capita, 2.6 tonnes from electricity
+~0% per capita production from wind from 2000 to 2005
+19% per capita thermal electricity production from 2000 to 2005
−1% per capita CO₂ from electricity 2000 to 2005

Telecharger “Eolien industriel: un échec en filigrane dans les statistiques Européennes”

In view of the considerations explored here, the Academy affirms:

1) That wind turbines, machines 150 meters in height, are contradictory to the French tradition that has always consisted of harmonizing architecture, however bizarre, with the countryside in respect of scale. The confrontation of such installations, which the promoters envision installing today in a massive way, with special sites and quality landscapes that have earned France the title of the premier tourist destination in the world, is difficult to accept.

2) That wind turbines do not contribute to the fight against greenhouse gas emissions: in effect, no production is as variable and unpredictable as industrial wind energy, and its development can only induce an augmentation of greenhouse gas emissions, because of the necessity of installing gas-powered backup plants.

3) That wind turbines create other nuisances: noise that is variable and difficult to tolerate in the nearby environment, accident risks, broken blades, ice throw …

4) That wind turbines, since the decree of 8 June 2001, reinforced by the authorization of 10 July 2006, which guarantees, for 15 years, the obligation put on Électricité de France to buy wind energy at a tariff much higher than the actual cost, have become a financial product (before eventually becoming a speculative bubble) whose powerful pressure is put on the commissions called upon to give their opinions as well on local prefects.

The Beaux-Arts Academy concludes that the only way to protect the French countryside will be to revoke the decree of 2001 and the authorization of 2006.

In any case, the Academy calls the attention of public officials to its responsibility regarding the inplantation of wind turbines and proposes that they consider the implantation of wind turbines as an industrial installation and to treat it as such:

In the matter of landscape:

- to vigorously make sure of the strict application of laws and regulations.
- to limit implantation to the most sensible sites, which must be determined and publicized.

In the matter of noise:

- to define a method to work toward creating essentiol protection areas for places of living and working and of true grandeur, as the technology permits.

In the matter of construction permits:

- to maintain the authority of local prefects.

Finally, the Beaux-Arts Academy recommends to public officials to make, before every administrative step concerning the implantation of wind turbines, a democractic consultation with the affected population, where the magnitude must be defined, every time, case by case.

These recommendations were the subject of a letter addressed to President of the Republic Nicloas Sarkozy, 29 October 2007.

[translation by National Wind Watch; the original French, including the complete paper of which this is the conclusion, is also available (click here)]

L’une des missions prépondérantes de l’Académie des Beaux-Arts est de veiller à la conservation et au développement harmonieux de notre patrimoine.

Au vu des considérations exposées ci-dessus, elle affirme :

1) Que les éoliennes, machines de 150 mètres de haut, sont en contradiction avec la tradition française qui a toujours consisté jusqu’à présent à harmoniser l’architecture, même insolite, avec le paysage en respectant son échelle. La confrontation de telles installations, que les promoteurs envisagent d’installer aujourd’hui de manière massive, avec les sites remarquables et les paysages de qualité qui ont valu à la France le titre de première destination touristique mondiale, est difficilement acceptable.

2) Que les éoliennes ne participent pas à la lutte contre les émissions de gaz à effet de serre : en effet, aucune production n’est aussi variable et aussi imprédictible que l’éolien industriel et son développement ne peut qu’induire une augmentation d’émission de gaz à effet de serre, par la nécessité d’installer des groupes de substitution qui fonctionnent à partir du gaz.

3) Que les éoliennes engendrent d’autres nuisances : un bruit variable et difficilement supportable pour le proche environnement, des risques d’accidents, ruptures de pales, détachement de blocs de glace …

4) Que les éoliennes, depuis le décret du 8 juin 2001, renforcé par l’arrêté du 10 juillet 2006, qui garantit, pour une durée de 15 ans, l’obligation faite à EDF d’acheter le courant éolien à un tarif très largement supérieur au prix coûtant, sont devenues un produit financier (avant de devenir éventuellement une bulle spéculative). D’où la forte pression exercée sur les commissions appelées à donner leur avis et même sur les préfets.

L’Académie des Beaux-Arts estime que la seule façon de protéger les paysages français serait d’annuler ce décret de 2001 et l’arrêté de 2006.

Dans tous les cas de figure, elle attire l’attention de la puissance publique sur sa responsabilité face à l’implantation d’éoliennes et lui propose de considérer l’implantation d’éoliennes comme une installation industrielle, et de la traiter comme telle.

En matière de paysage :

- de veiller à l’application stricte des lois et réglementations en vigueur.
- d’en interdire l’implantation dans les zones les plus sensibles qu’elle devra déterminer en en publiant la liste.

En matière de bruit :

- de définir la méthode d’approche pour créer les indispensables zones de protection des lieux de vie (habitat et travail) in situ et en vraie grandeur, la technologie actuelle le permettant.

En matière de permis de construire :

- de maintenir la compétence du préfet.

Enfin, l’Académie des Beaux-Arts recommande à la puissance publique de faire précéder chaque démarche administrative concernant l’implantation d’éoliennes, d’une consultation démocratique des populations concernées, dont l’ampleur devra être définie, chaque fois, au cas par cas.

Ces recommandations ont fait l’objet d’une lettre adressée au Président de la République Nicolas Sarkozy le 29 octobre 2007.

Téléchargez «Les Eoliennes: Rapport de l’Académie des Beaux-Arts»

Le rapport complet est disponible aussi en HTML — cliquez ici.

Sommaire
1. Historique et inventaire, Jean François COLLIGNON; Appendice : Principaux textes législatifs et réglementaires
2. Les Energies et les ressources renouvelables, Michel HUG
3. Les Eoliennes – Avantages, André ANTOLINI
4. Les Eoliennes – Inconvénients, Alain BRUGUIER
5. Eoliennes et Paysage, Claude PARENT
6. Les Eoliennes, belles comme Crésus, Marcel BOITEUX
7. L’Energie du vent, Yann ARTHUS-BERTRAND
8. Les Eoliennes et la santé publique, Pr. Claude-Henri CHOUARD
9. Les Eoliennes et le patrimoine, Christian PATTYN; Appendice : Liste des associations signataires
10. Les Eoliennes et les Finances Publiques, Henri PRÉVOT
11. Frénésie éolienne, le chant des sirènes, Didier WIRTH
12. Conclusion de l’Académie des Beaux-Arts
13. En guise d’appendice … quelques suggestions pour demain, à la lumière d’hier, Claude PARENT

1. The Kyoto protocol: reduce emissions of greenhouse gases
2. The concept of sustainable development
1. Three pillars of the concept of sustainable development
2. Analyzing a technology according to the concept of sustainable development
3. Analysis of industrial wind energy against sustainable development
1. Pillar of economic responsibility
1. Technical and economic inefficiencies
2. Artificial financial bubble
2. Pillar of social responsibility
1. Cost-benefit balance for all
2. Cost-benefit balance for neighbors
3. Pillar of environmental responsibility
1. Negative impacts for humans
2. Negative impacts for animals
3. Negative impacts for biotopes
4. Conclusions
1. Industrial wind energy does not contribute to the objectives of Kyoto
2. Industrial wind energy is not sustainable development
3. From ideological centerpiece to false idol
5. Annexes
1. Elsewhere in the world
2. What’s been said
3. Glossary
4. Bibliography

Téléchargez «L’éolien industriel: une imposture écologique, un scandale financier»

Fédération Environnement Durable

Décembre 2004

Made available by Vent du Colère

English excerpts (translated by National Wind Watch):

The Welsh Select Affairs Committee states on the subject of wind turbines, “In the case of existing wind energy facilities, we determine that there are cases of people who suffer nearly continuous noise when the wind turbines are operating, at levels that do not constitute a nuisance forbidden by law or exceeding regulated conditions, but that are clearly disturbing and disagreeable, and that can have psychological effects.”

We site the problems reported by English doctors following consultations with neighbors of wind turbines (clinical observations):

- Auditory and nervous fatigue
- Cardiac stress and arrhythmia
- Problems of anxiety and depression
- Effects on the quality and quantity of sleep …

Impact of infrasound on the human organism

The subject is very complex for many reasons:

- Research includes a large variety of approaches: physical sciences as well as experimental medicine — very separate disciplines, without a united view of the problem.

- Detection is difficult. It is in effect sometimes difficult to separate the activity of infrasound from that of audible sound and other elements of human pollution.

- The psychological character of some symptoms is difficult to understand in a rigorous manner.

- It affects some people but not others.

- It has different effects depending on exposure time, frequency (Hz), amplitude (dB), and distance from the source.

In a general way, it has been proven that infrasound that is able to be produced in a total silence has negative effects on human health. I cite symptoms:

- Central nervous system: fatigue, insomnia, sleep and rest problems

- Psyche: productivity problems, loss of concentration, nervousness, oppressed feeling, aggression, stress, anxiety, and global emotional and cognitive changes.

- Neurobiological system: incidents affecting balance, respiratory and cardiac rhythms, nausea — these problems would exist in cases of prolonged exposure. …

Exposures to 6-16 Hz at 10 dB are correlated with problems with alertness and sleep. At less than 20 dB, subjects exposed to infrasound suffer discomfort and experience pressure on the eardrums. …

Effects on human health of infrasound emitted by industrial wind turbines

There are meanwhile more and more clinical observations made by practicing physicians and that have been published by the national and medical press. They describe the following symptoms: visual problems, anguish, irritability, nausea, diarrhea, sleep and rest problems, humming in the ears, and depression. …

In Denmark, where wind turbines were introduced 30 years ago, the government responded to public demand by halting the installation of new wind turbines on land, particularly because of risks to health. …

In conclusion, wind turbines must not be sited less than 5 km (3.1 miles) from all habitation, because of the risks produced by infrasound.

Download “Éoliennes, Sons et Infrasons”