Resource Library Category: Virginia
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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.
Industrial Wind Power in the Mountains of Virginia
Author: Virginia Wind
Overstated Benefits and Understated Costs
The attached brochure is provided as a counterpoint to the Virginia State Wind Symposium at James Madison University on June 18th and 19th [2008].
This symposium is sponsored by the Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative (VWEC), a state and federally funded organization that purports to promote balanced development of wind generated electricity in Virginia. The symposium, however, is remarkably unbalanced.
Although concerns have been widely raised about the overstated benefits and understated costs of industrial-scale wind development on our . . .
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Report on Remand of Alexander K. Skirpan, Jr., Hearing Examiner
Author: Virginia State Corporation Commission
“Highland Wind seeks authority to construct nineteen wind turbines in Highland County, Virginia. In its order dated April 6, 2007, the Commission remanded the case for furter proceedings to address the development and implementation of a comprehensive post-construction monitoring and mitigation plan. This report on remand develops such a plan for the Commission’s consideration. …”
Download “Report on Remand of Alexander K. Skirpan, Jr., Hearing Examiner”
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Ecological impacts of wind energy development on bats
Author: Kunz, Thomas; Arnett, Edward; Erickson, Wallace; Hoar, Alexander; Johnson, Gregory; Larkin, Ronald; Strickland, M. Dale; Thresher, Robert; and Tuttle, Merlin
Thomas Kunz, of the Center for Ecology and Conservation Biology, Boston University, with colleagues from Bat Conservation International, Western EcoSystems Technology, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Illinois Natural History Survey, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, reviews the state of knowledge about impacts of wind energy facilities on bats. Published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, August 2007.
Of particular concern is the cumulative effect of continuing wind energy development. Based on existing studies and the proposal queue . . .
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Report: Dollars and Sense
Author: Schwartz, L. M.
While wind generated electricity may make sense in some circumstances, industry and government claims for its widespread use are not currently supported by sound science or economic analysis of costs v. benefits …
The author is from the Virginia Land Rights Coalition.
Download “Dollars and Sense”
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Keeler Obenshain Radar Study
Author: Plissner, Jonathan; Mabee, Todd; and Cooper, Brian
A RADAR AND VISUAL STUDY OF NOCTURNAL BIRD AND BAT MIGRATION AT THE PROPOSED HIGHLAND NEW WIND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, VIRGINIA, FALL 2005
Download “Keeler Obenshain Radar Study”
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Landscape Classification System
Author: Environmental Working Group, Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative
A Landscape Classification system addressing environmental issues associated with Utility Scale Wind Energy Development in Virginia
Download “A landscape classification system”
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Evaluating the Costs and Benefits of Wind Energy Development in the Mountains of Virginia
Author: Webb, Rick
Presentation given by Rick Webb of the Dept. of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, on October 17, 2006, at the Energy Virginia conference.
Download “Evaluating the Costs and Benefits of Wind Energy Development in the Mountains of Virginia”
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Direct Testimony of Charles Simmons for Highland Citizens, Va.
Author: Simmons, Charles
Direct Testimony of Charles Simmons for Highland Citizens, regarding the application of Highland New Wind Development, LLC, to construct a facility in Highland County, Virginia — September 1, 2006
p. 8: “The principals of economic dispatch result in starting with the lowest cost units being dispatched first and proceeding to load units in order of their cost. Similarly, the higher cost units are the first units to be reduced as load requirements are decreased. The very high cost oil units would . . .
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Direct Testimony of John Pagels for Highland Citizens, Va.
Author: Pagels, John
Direct Testimony of John Pagels for Highland Citizens, regarding the application of Highland New Wind Development, LLC, to construct a facility in Highland County, Virginia.
p. 5-6: “For the reasons stated herein, the study submitted by the developer in support of the turbines is insufficient in some places and erroneous in others. Indeed, based upon my years of research in and around the subject property we know that the report’s conclusion, that the northern flying squirrel is not present, is wrong. . . .
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Errors and Excesses in the NREL's JEDI-WIM Model
Author: Schleede, Glenn
Includes a demonstration of the NREL model’s overestimates — using the example of a “wind farm” proposed for Highland County, Virginia …
Download “Errors and Excesses in the NREL’s JEDI-WIM Model”
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