Resource Library Category: Environment
| RSS | Environment |
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.
Darbyshire Dales Ramblers statement on wind turbines
Author: Darbyshire Dales Group, Ramblers' Association
Since wind turbines –
are a means of generating electricity that is intermittent, expensive and can have no relevance to world climate change;
cause nuisance and distress for people living nearby, and have possibly harmful effects on health;
are imposed by the government under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, frequently in the face of strong local opposition, thereby overruling the decisions of democratically elected local authorities;
harm wildlife habitats;
damage tourism and hence the local economy;
entail the . . .
View (plus email and print links) »
Impact of a large-scale offshore wind farm on meteorology
Author: Rooijmans, Pim
Abstract
In this thesis the meteorological effects of a large-scale (9000 km2) offshore wind farm in the North Sea were simulated using the MM5 mesoscale model. The wind farm was simulated by introducing a higher roughness length (0.5 m) in the area of the wind farm. The meteorological effects were examined by comparing model runs with and without wind farm. Turbulent kinetic energy, cloud formation, precipitation and wind speed reduction were studied. Two case studies with westerly flows were performed. The . . .
View (plus email and print links) »
Can large wind farms affect local meteorology?
Author: Roy, S. Baidya; Pacala, S.W.; and Walko, R.L.
Abstract: The RAMS model was used to explore the possible impacts of a large wind farm in the Great Plains region on the local meteorology over synoptic timescales under typical summertime conditions. A wind turbine was approximated as a sink of energy and source of turbulence. The wind farm was created by assuming an array of such turbines. Results show that the wind farm significantly slows down the wind at the turbine hub-height level. Additionally, turbulence generated by rotors create . . .
View (plus email and print links) »
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 . . .
View (plus email and print links) »
Environment, New York, Property values, Regulations, Safety, Siting, Tourism
Comments to the Moresville Energy Project DEIS
Author: Western Catskill Preservation Alliance
In addition to the comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), the large file below includes graphics and signed Declarations of Opposition to the Moresville Energy Project in the towns of Stamford and Roxbury, N.Y..
Download “Comments to the Moresville Energy Project DEIS” (large)
Download “Comments to the Moresville Energy Project DEIS” (small)
View (plus email and print links) »
Coastal Update — The Kenedy Wind Farms
Author: Blackburn, Jim
This is a special edition of my coastal update that is written regarding the Kenedy County wind farms. The Coastal Habitat Alliance is a group that was formed to bring together environmental and private sector interests to act to protect our coast. The Coastal Habitat Alliance is working to identify some agency with jurisdiction over these environmentally damaging wind farms. We are in federal court over the absolute absence of the Texas Coastal Management Program and we . . .
View (plus email and print links) »
Serán gigantes o serán molinos? [Are they giants or are they mills?]
Author: Gonzalez, Marian
[Click here for a partial translation to English by National Wind Watch]
Aunque la propuesta para construir 25 turbinas de viento en la zona de Guayanilla puede parecer acertada a primera vista, hay que estudiarla con cuidado antes de darle paso.
Los molinos propuestos por Windmar harían necesario el desmonte de 125 cuerdas de Bosque Seco Tropical, lo que implicaría que 500,000 árboles dejarían de prestar su servicio.
En nuestro país a diario vemos las consecuencias de tomar decisiones a la ligera, sin . . .
View (plus email and print links) »
Richmond Road Turbine Splatters
Author: Bell, Ken
Ken Bell, Water Quality Monitoring Coordinator, Rondeau Watershed Coalition, noticed patterned splatters on the top third of the tower of a 1.5-MW GE turbine. Assuming that they indicate spilled oil thrown from the blades (and not, as originally suspected and still possible, collisions of birds and bats), he used to them to estimate the total amount of oil spilled.
“Richmond Road Turbine Splatters”
View original photos:
View (plus email and print links) »
Tru Greene, a song from St. Lucie County, Fla.
Author: Musicians Against Wind Turbines
A new anti-wind turbine song from Florida was done by a group calling themselves “Musicians Against Wind Turbines” who put together a band called Tru Greene to oppose a wind farm on the incredibly environmentally sensitive Hutchinson Island (which is the nesting ground of 5 species of endangered or threatened sea turtles and a migratory bird pathway as well as the most biodiverse estuary in North America).
The song includes local politics — FP&L is Florida Power & Light, the
Company who . . .
View (plus email and print links) »
Getting Up To Speed On Wind Power
Author: Droz, John
Overview of the situation (an introduction, outline, etc.)
Executive Summary (a one page, two point summary of the wind power issue)
Environmental Choice (a discussion of lesser known environmental hazards, plus an alternative to wind power)
an RPS analogy (RPS is at the core of the problem, and is the key thing that needs to be fixed)
Extensive List of References (a substantial amount of information about the wind power issue)
Download “Getting Up To Speed On Wind Power”
View (plus email and print links) »
