Ben Luce Presentation on Wind in Vermont From Grafton Vermont 11-26-12
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Ben Luce details the facts behind wind power in Vermont and compares the resource to other renewable options.
![Setbacks?
It is concluded that no large-scale wind turbine
should be operated within 3,500 meters [2.2
miles] of any dwelling or noise-sensitive place
unless the operator of the proposed wind farm
energy facility, at its own expense, mitigates any
noise within
Source: The Problems With ''Noise Numbers'' for
Wind Farm Noise Assessment, Bob Thorne, Bulletin
of Science Technology & Society 2011 31: 262.
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Ben Luce Presentation on Wind in Vermont From Grafton Vermont 11-26-12
- 1. Wind in Vermont? Dr. Ben Luce ben.luce@lyndonstate.edu
- 2. Scope of the Issue 1
- 3. Scope of the Issue 1000+ Lowell sized wind projects would be required just to make a serious dent in the Regional Load: 28,000 MW (peak) 40,000 MW (peak) Lowell Wind Project = .3*63MW = 19 MW (effective average capacity) It would require 1789 Lowell Projects to meet an average load of 34,000 MW. Data Source: Energy Information Administration, Today in Energy, July 12, 2012: 2 http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=7070
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- 5. PV Sweet zone Resource Ground Source Heat Pumps Potential Air Source Heat Pumps Solar Hot Water Farm Cellulosic Biomass Concentrating Solar Power Midwest Wind Power AD has Ridgeline Wind Power Anaerobic Forest Biomass special New Big Hydro benefits Digesters Microhydro Impact
- 6. Impact Summary Topographical Impacts "The block provides possible habitat for wide ranging Hydrological Impacts species of concern such as Habitat Fragmentation & Loss pine martin and Canada lynx." Impacts to birds and bats -Billy Coster, senior planner and policy analyst with the Noise Impacts ANR, to Jack Kenworthy, chief executive officer of Eolian Aesthetic Impacts: Rewewable Energy Ecotourism Environmental valuing Impacts to the Social Fabric of local communities Implications for the effectiveness of and public support for renewable energy investments 5
- 7. Very large roads and platforms are needed The Turbines are very large: 400+ feet high Weight: Hundreds of tons Very large trucks and industrial strength roads are needed Extensive bulldozing and blasting is required 6
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- 9. Wind Turbine Construction Mars Hill, Maine SUMMER 2011
- 10. Lowell Mountains Vermont 9
- 11. Lowell Mountains Vermont 10
- 12. Lowell Mountains Vermont 11
- 13. Sheffield Vermont SUMMER 2011
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- 16. Mountain Environments are Hydrologically Important and Sensitive Act as sponge Large Surface area Vegetation 3D Water table
- 17. Mountain Aquifers http://www.sonoma.edu/users/n/norwick/document/ford/gws2.html
- 18. Hydrological Impacts Soil Compaction and Impermeable surfaces impede infiltration, and can cause erosion and have adverse impacts on streams The Lowell wind project is a high- risk site with steep elevations and very erodible soils, the Applicants have proposed the use of alternate Best Management Practices, which are essentially untested and unproven at scale this large, stated Geoff Goll of Princeton Hydro, an expert who testified to the Vermont Public Service Board on the Lowell Project
- 19. Birds Mountain ridges generate updrafts used by migrating raptors. (From: Bildstein 2006). ANR to Eolian: The land, Coster notes, is a gateway for migratory birds en route to the Nulhegan Basin. (Orleans County Record, 5/23/12)
- 20. Bats Endangered species of bats do live in Vermont (Myotis Sodalis) Bats can be killed by merely flying close to turbines Some projects (e.g. Lowell) are now using turbines specifically designed for lower wind areas (lower wind speeds), which may be particularly problematic for bats.
- 21. Global Populations vs. Local Impacts Wind proponents commonly cite other sources of bird mortality as being much greater than with existing wind development. Impacts from tens or hundreds of thousands of turbines? Impacts to local ecosystems? The cumulative, long-term impacts, both local and global, are what ultimately matter. 20
- 22. Noise and Health Infrasonic noise from wind turbines appears to be affecting the health of susceptible people in the vicinity of turbines Large turbines essentially shake the air This can be amplified by the resonant effect of buildings. Similar to health impacts on people working in buildings with improperly configured ventilation systems.
- 23. Noise and Health One example of related peer-reviewed research: Responses of the ear to low frequency sounds, infrasound and wind turbines Hearing Research, Volume 268, Issues 1-2, 1 September 2010, Pages 12-21 Alec N. Salt, a, and Timothy E. Hullara a Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, Box 8115, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA See summary at http://oto2.wustl.edu/cochlea/windmill. html
- 24. The noise generated by wind turbines is rather unusual, containing high levels (over 90 dB SPL) of very low frequency sound (infrasound). (Washington University Group)
- 25. Hear for yourself? A single visit to a local wind project is not a basis for evaluating noise impacts Noise varies greatly with: Wind direction and weather The observers specific location The specific room you are in See: The Problems With ''Noise Numbers'' for Wind Farm Noise Assessment, Bob Thorne, Bulletin of Science Technology & Society 2011 31: 262. 24
- 26. Setbacks? It is concluded that no large-scale wind turbine should be operated within 3,500 meters [2.2 miles] of any dwelling or noise-sensitive place unless the operator of the proposed wind farm energy facility, at its own expense, mitigates any noise within Source: The Problems With ''Noise Numbers'' for Wind Farm Noise Assessment, Bob Thorne, Bulletin of Science Technology & Society 2011 31: 262. 25
- 27. Property Values A wind "farm" is tantamount to an "inverse condemnation", or regulatory taking of private property rights.....an uncompensated taking. Michael S. McCann, CRA McCann Appraisal, LLC Chicago, Illinois 60611 mikesmccann@comcast.net 26
- 28. Property Values Wind turbines are often perceived to have substantial negative impacts on local residents, and new research by Clarkson School of Business Assistant Professor Martin Heintzelman and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Ph.D. candidate Carrie Tuttle shows that, in some communities, these impacts translate into declines in property values. http://www.clarkson.edu/business/centers/environmental economics.html The Clarkson study clearly shows value impacts out to three miles and clearly shows the closer the turbine, the greater the impact. Michael S. McCann, CRA McCann Appraisal, LLC 27
- 29. Vermont Brand Study Commissioned by the State of Vermont Tourism Department Released in 2010 28
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- 33. The Economics of Wind Power
- 34. Subsidies for a Renewable Energy Technology are fine if. They are helping to make the technology reasonably affordable (or better, competitive) They are supporting development which is truly sustainable, and important for reducing emissions. Otherwise, they can be counterproductive 33
- 35. Cost Trends of Wind Power What DOE Predicted in 2002 Actual 40 Wind COE cents/kWh 30 20 10 0 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 Source: US Department of Energy (Second plot: 2011 Wind Energy Technology Market Report) 34
- 36. Winds bad cost trend is why Wind is still deeply dependent on subsidies People tend to believe its cheaper than it is The industry is on the verge of collapse 35
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- 38. Summary of Wind Power Cost Well above $.10/kWh in the Northeast (even with subsidies) Ridge line wind particularly expensive: Extensive site development Relatively small projects Transmission costs Impact management About the same as solar today, and more so full costs are included. 37
- 39. Solar Power Cost Trend Department of Energys Solar Technologies Market Report http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/51847.pdf 38
- 40. Additional Transmission Costs for Eastern Wind Power The Northeast Grid is already fairly congested According to Gordon van Welie, president and chief executive officer of ISO New England Inc: A conservative goal for 5,500 megawatts of wind power and 3,000 megawatts of hydro power through 2030 would carry transmission costs of between $7 billion and $12 billion. From: New England grid chief: Cooperate on wind power, by David Sharp, Associated Press Writer, August 16, 2010. 4000+ miles of new transmission lines 39
- 41. Question: On a resource basis alone, can wind power make a substantial contribution to reducing US greenhouse gas emissions?
- 42. Answer: In the Midwest, maybe. In the Eastern US, no, unless offshore wind turns out to be viable. 41
- 43. 2x Speed means 8x Power: Annual Turbine Energy Production =(8760/1000) x 1.9 e 遜 r A v3 Here, e is the efficiency of the turbine, r is the density of air (which we can take as 1.23 kg/m3), A is the swept area (m3), and v is the average wind speed (m/s).
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- 45. State by State Wind Power Potential from the Department of Energy (source: www.windpoweringamerica.gov) 44
- 46. Relative Ranking of State Wind Resources Source: www.windpoweringamerica.gov (see previous slide) Capacity - in peak gigawatts Ranking State 1901 1 Texas 2 Kansas 952 3 Montana 944 4 Nebraska 918 5 South Dakota 818 6 North Dakota 770 Western 7 Iowa 570 US 8 Wyoming 552 9 Oklahoma 517 10 New Mexico 492 . 15 New York 25.6 25 Maine 11.3 29 Pennsylvania 3.3 27 Vermont 2.9 Eastern 30 New Hampshire 2.1 31 West Virginia 1.9 US 33 Virginia 1.8 34 Maryland 1.5 35 Massachusetts 1.0 45
- 47. Total for Onshore Eastern Wind Resources As estimated by DOE (unlisted states have little or no potential), in peak gigawatts (GW): New York: 25.6 GW Maine : 11.3 GW Pennsylvania: 3.3 GW Vermont: 2.9 GW New Hampshire: 2.1 GW Virginia: 1.8 GW West Virginia: 1.9 GW Maryland: 1.5 GW MA: 1.0 GW Total: 52 GW (50% in NY)
- 48. Effective Onshore Wind Power Capacity in the entire Eastern US NREL data applies to CF=.3 NREL Estimates Eastern Peak Capacity = 52 GW Effective Wind Capacity: .3*52 GW = 15.6 GW Current average US consumption = 470 GW Potential average onshore Eastern wind penetration into current US load: (15.6 GW/470 GW) x 100% = 3.3% Long term: Probably less than 2% Maximum CO2 reduction: ~ 1% 47
- 49. These DOE estimates are likely a gross over- estimate of the real onshore wind potential in the East: Myriad local siting issues were not included
- 50. Renewable Alternatives to Wind? Really only one serious one for the Eastern US: Solar Power
- 52. Solar is the Renewable: Total Insolation: ~120,000 Trillion Watts Total World energy demand: 30 Trillion Watts Current US Primary energy demand: ~3.3 Trillion Watts Solar collectors covering 1-2% of the Sahara would provide all World electrical demand.
- 53. Burlington Airport 1.5 MW PV Plant DOE: Utility-Scale PV Potential is greater than 34 time Total US Electricity Demand
- 54. DOE: Rooftop PV Potential ~ 700 gigawatts > 30% Total US Electricity Demand
- 55. Solar Power Cost Trend Decrease since reports release Department of Energys Solar Technologies Market Report http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/51847.pdf 54
- 56. Solar Energy Distribution for Montpelier, VT
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- 60. Typical Grid-Tied Inverter Simple!
- 61. A PV collection area of less than 1% of the cleared farmland in VT would produce the equivalent of VTs entire electricity demand*. With zero clearing, blasting, bulldozing, and little or no new power lines. *This estimate follows assuming 15% PV modules, and an average production of 3 kWh/day per kilowatt of PV capacity. Future PV technology will likely decrease this area significantly. By total collector area it is meant not counting spacing between individual collectors. This is the appropriate measure to evaluate the scale of the resource because spacing requirements vary with installation type. For example, there is no spacing to add in for contiguous roof-top systems.
- 62. Optimal Plan for Reduction of Carbon 2010 2015 2015 Forward Higher efficiency Continue other measures Vehicles Weatherization Greatly expand Photovoltaic transition if Energy efficiency cost has indeed trended Solar Hot Water low enough. Geothermal Heating Plan for, and begin, Photovoltaic transition 61
- 63. Further Discussion? 62