Resource Library Category: Americas (3 items)
Documents presented here are not the product of nor are they necessarily endorsed by National Wind Watch. This resource library is provided to assist anyone wishing to research the issue of industrial wind power and the impacts of its development. The information should be evaluated by each reader to come to their own conclusions about the many areas of debate.
Science of Industrial Wind in MA and the Eastern US
Source: Luce, Ben
I was a strong advocate of utility-scale wind and other renewables in New Mexico, and expected to support some level of utility scale wind development in the Northeast prior to studying the issue of wind in this region in detail.
I also believe that very aggressive action to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change is needed.
Given that I am a strong advocate of renewables, I will not address the larger debate of renewables versus other non-renewable energy approaches such as nuclear power and clean coal in this presentation.
I will be focusing mainly on wind and solar in this presentation, because I do not believe that small wind, small hydro, or biomass-fired generation represent significant renewable electricity options for the Eastern US, simply because of their very small resource potentials.
Number of “Mountain Systems” Required for 1 GW of Peak Capacity in MA (333 3-MW turbines):
• 5 turbines/mile
• ~70 miles of ridge, not counting access roads
• 10 turbines/project on average:
• ~33 Mountain Systems
Is it worth developing 33 mountain systems in MA to provide just 5% of MA electricity?
– Environmental impacts?
– Impact on people?
– Impacts on the local economy?
– Cost relative to alternatives?
– Despite impacts, would this still be “doing our part” to encourage significant regional wind development?
Note that fairly wide and fully developed road beds and wide, level clearings (of roughly equal area to the swept area of the rotors) are needed for this type of development, due to the enormous weight and length of the trucks and their loads involved. Extensive blasting and bulldozing of the mountaintop is required, which incurs extensive impacts to streams, wetlands, bedrock, and of course plant and animal life.
The impacts to ecotourism (meaning economic benefits in general related to the scenic beauty of the area) are potentially endangered by ridgeline wind development.
Many people genuinely feel the experience of seeing a project the first few times to be enjoyable, which is understandable given what these projects represent to them, the sheer scale of the turbines, and the novelty of the experience.
It’s a different question entirely whether people will like to vacation or maintain second homes in an area in the long run with extensive ridge line wind development. The study referenced on the following slides shows that, for example, vacationers in Vermont greatly value the unspoiled nature of the state.
Although the impact of low-frequency noise from wind turbines is not fully understood in physiological terms, there is peer-reviewed research indicating that low-frequency noise can couple physically to the cochlea. http://oto2.wustl.edu/cochlea/windmill.html
The following slide shows the “spectrum” of wind turbine noise. The graph shows that wind turbines created prodigious levels of infrasonic (subsonic) noise, which places them in a somewhat different category from many other noise sources.
Unfortunately, set-backs for wind projects today do not yet take into account potential impacts due to infrasonic noise.
There is also a growing body of literature suggesting that impacts to health are occurring, in particular impacts associated with loss of sleep.
Human Hearing is Logarithmic
• Quietest sound we can hear: 1 trillionth of a watt per square meter.
• Our ears are super-sensitive vibration sensors.
• It potentially doesn’t take a great deal of noise to create problems.
• Even though many do live in noisy environments already, this does not imply that noise is not a problem, and that it’s perfectly ok to increase noise in the few remaining quiet regions left.
There are serious issues with respect to the impact on species such as birds and bats.
While its true that large numbers of birds are killed by other means, this does not imply that killing more with wind turbines is acceptable. Moreover, the number of birds and bats killed by turbines could potentially rise to very significant levels if significant levels of wind generation is eventually installed. The number of birds and bats killed by wind turbines currently may be statistically insignificant, but the amount of wind power generation is also currently essentially statistically insignificant.
What if?
• Some of the billions being invested in wind were invested into weatherization and efficiency? – A true “Manhattan Project” of conservation?
• Some of the billions being invested in wind were used to help bring solar down in price, locating good sites, empowering the public?
It is, in fact, typical for our culture to quickly develop a new energy source (or any new resource for that matter), with little regard for the consequences, and then only later attempt to undo or correct for unforeseen consequences.
With the issue of inappropriate wind development, however, we have a chance this time to avoid the worst, and get renewable energy development focused back on a truly sustainable path towards a bright future.
Don’t Get Caught in the Great Green Wind Scam’s Web of Lies!
Source: Forest Ecology Network
The Maine Woods, a publication of the Forest Ecology Network (www.forestecologynetwork.org)
Volume Twelve, Number One, January 2012
Don’t Get Caught in the Great Green Wind Scam’s Web of Lies!
Contents
- Great Green Mountaintop Industrial Wind Scam, A Voice in the Wilderness — by Jonathan Carter
- The Villains of Mountaintop Industrial Wind: The Mountain Slayers and Profiteers of Maine
- Corporate Cronyism and the Great Green Wind Scam Flow Chart
- The Great Green Wind Scam — by Jonathan Carter
- Wind Integration: Does It Reduce Pollution and Greenhouse Gas Emissions? — by the Institute for Energy Research
- Wind Power Won’t Cool Down the Planet: Often Enough It Leads to Higher Carbon Emissions — by Robert Bryce
- Why the Wind Industry Is Full of Hot Air and Costing You Big Bucks — by Robert Bryce
- Industrial Wind Power Output FAQ — by National Wind Watch
- A Letter to the Department of Environmental Protection — by Bradbury Blake
- Industrial Wind Update: Municipal and Legal — by Lynne Williams
- Nature of the Noise Issues — by the Acoustic Ecology Institute
- Blackpoll Warbler Kill at Laurel Mountain Wind Farm
- Bird Backers Rip Feds on Wind Power Rules — by Kristy Hessman
- Raptors and California’s Altamont Pass
- Industrial Wind Energy Projects in Maine
- Real Estate Values and Grid-Scale Wind Energy Facilities — by Karen Pease
- Review of Events on Vinalhaven
- Is There an Environmentalist in the House? — by David P. Corrigan
- Flaws in the Wind Power Permitting Process — by Monique Amiel and Steve Thurston
- Flaws in the Expedited Wind Permitting Process — by Bob Weingarten
- Bats Worth Billions to Agriculture: Pest-Control Services at Risk — by J.G. Boyles, P. Cryan, G. McCracken, and T. Kunz
- Wind Turbines and Forest Fires — by Clyde McDonald
- Thoughts on Climate Change, Energy, and Forests: The Way Ahead — by Jonathan Carter
- When I Lay Down to Sleep — by David Corrigan
- The Facts about Wind Energy Development in Maine
Download original document: “The Maine Woods, Volume 12, Number 1, January 2012″
Wind Farm Easement Agreement – FPL Energy
Source: FPL Energy
3.3 Use of Owner’s Property. During the Option Term, Operator and its employees, agents and contractors shall have a non-exclusive right to enter upon the Owner’s Property and the right of ingress and egress over and across the Owner’s Property for the purposes of (i) surveying the Owner’s Property; (ii) performing such other tests and studies as Operator may desire in connection with the Option, including, without limitation, environmental, avian and cultural resource assessments, and geotechnical,foundation and soil tests; provided that such activities do not unreasonably interfere with Owner’s use of the Owner’s Property as set out in Section l0.4.; and (iii) installing, maintaining, operating, inspecting and removing one or more wind monitoring devices and all associated activities (including the Meteorological Towers referenced in Section 7.3), and including the performance of all tests and studies associated therewith.
4.1 Construction Easement. … When installing, maintaining or removing the nacelle and rotor from any Wind Turbine, whether located on or off of Owner’s Property, this Construction Easement also shall permit workers to do the following: (a) (for the purpose of securing tag lines) travel on foot or in a pickup truck, SUV, small forklift or other similar vehicles onto Owner’s Property up to seven hundred (700) feet in any direction from the center of the Access Easement; and (b) drive an erection crane on Owner’s Property.
4.2 Access Easement. Owner grants to Operator an irrevocable, non-exclusive easement for vehicular and pedestrian ingress and egress over, across and along the Owner’s Property (or such portions thereof that may be described in the attached Exhibits “B”), by means of any existing roads or lanes thereon, or otherwise by such route or routes as Operator or Owner may construct from time to time.
4.3 Wind Turbine Easement. Owner grants Operator an irrevocable, exclusive easement to construct, operate and maintain Wind Turbines, Collection Facilities, (as defined in Section 7.2) together with associated roads and parking areas on Owner’s Property …
4.4 Collection Easement. Owner grants to Operator an irrevocable, exclusive easement for the construction, installation, maintenance, use, operation, repair, replacement, relocation and removal of Collection Facilities on, over, across, along and under the Owner’s Property …
4.5 Wind Non-Obstruction Easement. Owner grants to Operator an irrevocable, exclusive easement for the right and privilege to use, maintain and capture the free and unobstructed flow of wind currents over and across the Owner’s Property. Owner shall not interfere, or permit any other party to interfere with the free, unobstructed and natural wind flow, wind speed or wind direction over and across the Owner’s Property by doing the following within 1400 feet of a Wind Turbine or proposed Wind Turbine location: (a) constructing buildings or other structures on the Owner’s Property; (b) planting trees on the Owner’s Property; or (c) engaging in any other activity on the Owner’s Property or elsewhere that might, in the sole opinion of Operator, cause a decrease in the output or efficiency of the Wind Turbines located on the Owner’s Property.
4.7 Noise Easement. Owner grants Operator an irrevocable, non-exclusive easement for the right and privilege to generate and maintain audible noise levels in excess of fifty (50) dbA on and above the Noise Easement Property at any or all times of the day or night (”Noise Easement”). The “Noise Easement Property” shall mean the Owner’s Property except those portions within a 200-foot radius circle (or lesser distance with Owner’s prior written consent) centered on the inside of each presently existing, occupied residence on the Owner’s Property.
10.1 Exclusive Use by Operator. Subject to the limitations in Sections 10.3 and l0.4, Operator shall have the exclusive right (i) to use and possess the Operator Property in connection with the Wind Power Project and other similar wind-powered electrical power generation projects; (ii) to investigate, inspect, survey, and conduct tests of the Owner’s Property, including, but not limited to, meteorological, environmental, archeological and geotechnical tests and studies; (iii) to use and convert all of the wind resources on the Owner’s Property; and (iv) to undertake such other activities on the Owner’s Property that may be related to the Wind Power Project, including, without limitation, the storage of towers, materials and equipment during the installation and construction of the Wind Turbines and other Improvements; development and operation of communications systems; and site tours of the Wind Power Project for visitors and other interested parties.
10.4.2 Ranching and Agricultural Uses. Owner and Operator agree to cooperate with each other in a manner that will allow Owner to continue the current ranching and agricultural uses of the Owner’s Property in a manner that does not unreasonably interfere with Operator’s use of the Operator Property.
10.4.3 Hunting and Other Recreational Uses. Owner and Operator agree to cooperate with each other in a manner that will allow Owner to use the Owner’s Property for hunting and other recreational purposes in a manner that does not unreasonably interfere with Operator’s use of the Operator Property. Before allowing any person to enter upon the Owner’s Property for hunting or other recreational purposes, Owner shall require each such person to execute a Hunter’s Waiver and Release Agreement in substantially the same form as the attached Exhibit “C”. If Owner should fail to obtain such Hunter’s Waiver and Release Agreement, Owner shall be liable to Operator in the same manner as the person who failed to sign the Hunter’s Waiver and Release Agreement would have been liable if such person had signed such Hunter’s Waiver and Release Agreement, and Owner agrees to indemnify and hold Operator harmless from any loss, liability clam or damage resulting from the failure of Owner to obtain such person’s signature on the Hunter’s Waiver and Release Agreement.
10.7 No Interference. During the Tenn of this Agreement, Owner covenants and agrees that neither Owner nor its agents, lessees, invitees, guests, licensees, successors or assigns will (i) interfere with, impair or prohibit the free and complete use and enjoyment by Operator of its rights granted by this Agreement; (ii) take any action which will interfere with or impair the availability, accessibility, flow, frequency, or direction of air and wind over and above the Owner’s Property; (iii) take any action which will in any way interfere with or impair the transmission of electric, electromagnetic or other forms of energy to or from the Owner’s Property; or (iv) take any action which will interfere with or impair Operator’s access to the Owner’s Property and the Operator Property for the purposes specified in this Agreement.
16. Confidentiality. THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDES CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION RELATING TO OPERATOR AND THE WIND POWER PROJECT. IN ADDITION, FROM TIME TO TIME OPERATOR MAY DELIVER TO OWNER ADDITIONAL CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION RELATING TO THE WIND POWER PROJECT (“ADDITIONAL INFORMATION”). OWNER AGREES NOT TO PROVIDE COPIES OF THE AGREEMENT OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR DISCLOSE THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO ANY UNAUTHORIZED PERSON OR ENTITY. OPERATOR AUTHORIZES OWNER TO PROVIDE COPIES OF THE AGREEMENT AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND DISCLOSE THE TERMS THEREOF TO OWNER’S FAMILY, ATTORNEY, ACCOUNTANT, FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND ANY EXISTING OR PROSPECTIVE MORTGAGEE, LESSEE, OR PURCHASER, SO LONG AS THEY LIKEWISE AGREE NOT TO PROVIDE COPIES OF THE AGREEMENT OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR DISCLOSE THE TERMS THEREOF TO ANY UNAUTHORIZED PERSON OR ENTITY.
Download original document: “FPL Glacier Hills Wind Lease”
Life in a Wisconsin Wind Project
Source: Life in a Wisconsin Wind Project
lifeinawisconsinwindproject.tumblr.com
This photo show the large crane lifting the second of three pieces to the turbine tower base. This is in the same Invenergy project I live in.
This photo is also in the Invenergy project that I live in about two miles to the west of my house. You can see how the farmer’s fields are being cut up by the access roads to the turbines. What you do not yet see is the wide stripping of the farmer’s fields to dig in the electrical lines to connect all the turbines to the substation. Those photos are further down.
What happens when you lease your farmland to a wind developer? This is just a partial view from the air of how a farmer’s fields were dug up and compacted by heavy equipment during the construction phase of the Invenergy wind project we live in.
A substation for the this project is located 3300 feet behind my house. From that substation, if you went west for about four miles the ground was disturbed so badly it looked like it had been stripped for a highway.
Two years after the turbine construction was done I could still see where the underground electric lines from the turbines connecting them to the substation are buried.
This is a closer view of what the farm land looked like after the underground wires were installed linking the turbines to the power substation.
This is behind my house. This road-like path cuts west and goes across fields for four miles. Then it goes south to connect other large turbines.
Farmers were told by the wind developers that each turbine would only take up about a quarter acre of their land and they’d be able to farm right up to the base of the turbine. Those who didn’t read their contracts didn’t understand that once they signed their land over, the wind developer controlled a lot more than a quarter acre.
The developer now controlled pretty much every inch of their land.
The turbine base might only take up a quarter acre but the contract let the developer put the turbine where ever he wanted, it let him strip the farmer’s land for access roads, dig up fields to lay underground wires and cables, remove the topsoil and tear up the fields in ways that can’t be put right.
Heavy machines compact the soil and crush drain tiles and if the farmer can prove crop loss because of this — well maybe they’ll get reimbursed.
Here’s a letter from a Wisconsin farmer who found out what his contract said the hard way. He signed on with a wind developer from NextEra — the new name for the wind division of major utility Florida Power and Light [FPL Energy] — and NextEra sold the contract to WeEnergies. Click here to download a copy of a Glacier Hills wind lease.
