Wind Energy

Question 1

List the pros that come with wind energy

Answer 1

o Potential alternative to fossil fuels.
o Plentiful.
o Widely distributed.
o Relatively clean.
o No greenhouse gas emissions during operation.
o Uses little land.
o Less problematic than other renewable sources

Question 2

List the cons that come with wind energy

Answer 2

o Raw materials used in construction. (Neodymium – rare metal for gearboxes)
o Widening of roads to haul material – sometimes need to remove trees.
o Noise.
o Shadowing (Grouse).
o Very visual in the landscape.
o Transporting materials to the site.

Question 3

What are the direct effects of wind energy?

Answer 3

o Bat deaths
o Bird deaths
o Altered habitats.
o Visual/noise issues.

Question 4

How could you minimize environmental impacts on bats

Answer 4

 Program turbines to turn on at 18-20 mph wind speeds instead of 10.
* At winds of these speeds, bats are not out.
 Don’t run wind turbines during autumn migration  the peak time of death for bats.

Question 5

How could you minimize environmental impacts on birds? Per American Bird Conservancy Wind Farm Guidelines

Answer 5

 Siting
* Prevent harm, in already altered habitats, and avoid sensitive areas, not adjacent to important bird areas.
 Operation and construction mitigation
* Use of best technology, bury transmission lines, strategic lighting, and restore habitat destroyed during construction.
* Painting a single-blade black is promising, and is more visual for birds.
 Monitoring
 Compensation