Wind 101 Environment Shadow Flicker Noise Birds & Bats Aesthetics

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Shadow Flicker Zone

North

South ©

Analysis Software is Available Noise • Distinctly Audible They Are Not Silent They Will Be Heard • Great Reductions in Noise • But Noise is Constant--Ever-Present Except During Calms • Small Turbines Are Noisiest Air 303-403 Noise For Their Size

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Bergey Noise Noise Footprint

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Air 403 Noise at Wulf Test Field 66 64 62 60 58 56 54 52

dBA (Leq) 50 48 46 44 42 40 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Wind Speed (mph)

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Air 403 SPL Summary Wulf Test Field 68 66 64 62 60 58 56 54 52 dBA (Leq) 50 48 46 44 42 40 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Wind Speed (mph)

Ambient Charging

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Calculated & Measured Noise Emissions Source Sound Power Level at 8 m/s

Sound Power Level dBA 120 1980s 1990s L=22 log D + 72 110 ! 1999, Small & Micro& H40 !! ! 100 !! !! ! !!! ! ! ! !! ! !! & BWC 850 ! ! 90 ,,Air303 & H40 , L=22 log D + 65 80 & AirX

70

60 1 10 100 Diameter (meters)

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Noise Source Strength

Sound Power Level (Emission Source Strength) for Selected Wind Turbines, an Estimated Distance to 45 dBA

Swept Rated Tower @ 8 m/s1 Distance to Diameter Area Power Height dBA 45 dBA2 2 m ft m kW m ft Leq m ft Air 403 1.2 3.8 1 0.32 20 66 88 50 160 Whisper H40 2.4 8 5 0.9 20 66 85 35 110 Furländer 13 43 133 30 27 89 93 95 310 Lagerwey 18/80 18 59 254 80 32 105 96 125 410 E40 40 131 1,257 500 63 207 100 200 660 V66 66 216 3,421 1,650 67 220 102 225 740 1. Sound Power Levels increase with increasing wind speed. 2. Estimated using IEA model and atmospheric absorption.

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Noise Community Response

Community Response to Noise from Sources Other Than Wind Turbines

Amount by which Estimated Community Response Noise Exceeds Background Level dB Category Description 0 None No observed reaction 5 Little Sporadic complaints 10 Medium Widespread complaints 15 Strong Threats of action 20 Very Strong Vigorous action Source: Harvey Hubbard, Kevin Shepherd, NASA, 1990. Note: This table was derived for noise sources other than wind turbines and neighbors could be either more or less sensitive to noise than that indicated here.

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Noise Limits Selected Noise Limits, Sound Pressure Levels in dBA

Commercial Mixed Residential Rural Germany Day 65 60 55 50 Night 50 45 40 35 Netherlands Day Leq 50 45 40 Night 40 35 30 1 Denmark Leq 40 45 2 England High speed L50 45 Low speed L50 40 Minnesota Day L50 75 65 60 60 Night L50 75 65 50 50 Minnesota Day L10 80 70 65 65 Night L10 80 70 55 55 3 Kern County, Calif. L8.3 45 45 Riverside County, Calif. L90 45 4 Palm Springs, Calif. L90 50 60 1. Not to exceed 45 dBA beyond 400 m from wind turbine 2. L50 approx. 350 m from the nearest turbine. 3. L8.3., not to exceed 50 dBA. 4. 50 dBA if lot is actually used as residential.

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Birds & Bats Cros de Gerand, France • Before & After Studies of Big Projects • Studies Necessary for Small Projects?

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Birds & Bats • Bats Appalachian Mts & Buffalo Ridge (MN) Bat Conservation Society Report Cause Unknown & Further Research In Doubt US Wind Industry Uncooperative Seasonal Shut Down Possible • Birds, Altamont Pass Issue Unresolved California Wind Industry Uncooperative Disaster for Raptors & Wind Energy

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Birds Killed in the Altamont Pass

Per Year Low High

Total 1,766 4,721

Raptors 881 1,300

Raptors/MW 1.5 2.2

Source: Developing Methods to Reduce Bird Mortality in the Altamont Pass WRA, August 2004, P500-04-052.

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Bat Kills in North America • 2,100 Bats Killed at Mountaineer, WV • Total Could be Higher--4,000 • Mountaineer 44 Multi-Megawatt Turbines • TVA’s Tennessee Site, 3 V47 ~85 Bats/yr

Source: Bat Conservation International; www.batcon.org

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Aesthetic Guidelines: Design As If People Matter

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Increasing Acceptance #1

“Your Own Pigs Don’t Stink”

Jutland, Denmark Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Public Opinion Surveys • “Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder” True, But Most People Agree on “Beauty” • Broad Support ~ 70%-90% On Both Sides of the Atlantic • In the Abstract! Benefits Global Impacts Local

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Acceptance of Wind Energy

Percent Acceptance High Pre-Project Post-Installation

During Project

Low Time

Source: L. Arkesteijn, Energy Connection

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Power Plant Acceptance

100%

80%

60%

40% Neutral Rejectors 20% NIMBYs Acceptors 0% Nuclear Fossil Biomass Wind Thayer, Consumer Attitude and Choice

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Power Plant Acceptance

Ratings 5

! ! 4.5 WIND !

4 " " " 3.5 # BIOMASS # ! FOSSIL 3 " #

2.5 # NUCLEAR

2 Visual Quality Health & Safety Environmental Impact Overall Thayer, R. Consumer Attitude and Choice

PaulPaul Gipe, Gipe, wind-works.org wind-works.org Increasing Acceptance #2

• Minimize Wind’s Footprint Physical--Roads, Foundations, Buildings Environmental & Visual • Seek Harmony with Neighbors & the Environment • Wind as a part of the Landscape • Not a Wind Landscape as in California • NIMBY to POOL

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Aesthetic Design--Not New Idea

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org CalPoly 1984 Provide Distinct Visual Units

CalPoly 1984 Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Keep Ancillary Structures Off Hills & Ridges

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Chris Blandford Assoc. Provide Visual Uniformity

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Keep Them Spinning

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Keep Them Clean Use a Drip Pan or a Diaper (Nappie)

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Bury All Intra-Project Lines

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Montefalcone, Italy Bury All Intra-Project Lines

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Avoid Visual Clutter

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org, 2003, with Telephoto Lens Avoid “Industrialization”

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Avoid Mixing Types

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Use Open Spacing Don’t Get Greedy

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Remove Dead Turbines

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Remove Headless Horsemen

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Dress for Success

Nacelle Covers Nose Cones

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Minimize Roads

• Use Existing Roads • Use Existing Tracks • Minimize Width • Minimize Radius • Harden Where Needed

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org . . . Or Eliminate Roads

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Minimize Physical Footprint . . . Especially in Arid Terrain

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Avoid Steep Slopes

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org No Mountain-Top Removal!

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Avoid Cell (Mobile) Phones

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org No Billboards

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org No Logo!

Or Subtle Logo Only

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Control Erosion

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Revegetate Site

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Use Proper Proportions

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Eliminate Fencing Sends the Wrong Message . . .“Keep Out, Danger”

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Inform Public

Simpler is Better

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org TREC/WindShare, , Ontario, Canada Inform Public

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Provide Parking

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Provide Access

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Avoid Garish Patterns

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Tvind, Denmark Use White, Off-White, or Gray

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Keep Sites Tidy

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Remove Trash & Litter

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Remove “Bone” or Scrap Yards

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Spring Forth . . . Organically

Avoid Surface Expression of Foundation

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Pay Attention to Detail

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Harmonize Structures With Other Structures on Landscape

Buildings

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Harmonize Structures Transformers (Use Architectural Façades)

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Harmonize Structures

Place Transformers Inside Towers

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org Harmonize Structures

• Harden Access Where Needed • Paint Over Graffiti

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org In Sum . . . Be A Good Neighbor

Paul Gipe, wind-works.org