WindWind PowerPower andand SkiSki ResortsResorts By:By: AlexandraAlexandra KotelonKotelon [email protected]@kentlaw.edu EnergyEnergy LawLaw 20092009 GlobalGlobal WarmingWarming andand WinterWinter RecreationRecreation WhyWhy isis itit important?important?

* 326 Alpine ski areas and over 400 industry related suppliers across the country. * The 4 largest companies in the industry generate $1.8 billion in revenue annually. * Winter recreation constitutes 12% of jobs in New Hampshire and 7% of state’s economy. * Adds $750 million in tax revenue in Vermont annually. For every dollar spent on skiing, it generates an additional 94 cents in government spending. * Colorado benefits most with $1.7 billion in annual revenue and a $1.5 billion payroll (over 120,000 employees). AlsoAlso ……..

Millions of people in a quarter of the countries around the world take to the slopes every season.

For Nordic countries, skiing represents an important cultural legacy with thousands of years of roots. AndAnd MostMost ImportantlyImportantly ……

SKIINGSKIING ISIS FUN!!!FUN!!! GlobalGlobal WarmingWarming

“Downhill skiing could disappear altogether at some resorts, while at others, a retreating snow line will cut off base villages from their ski runs as soon as 2030.”
-- United Nations Environment Programme 2003 Report FurtherFurther EvidenceEvidence

AA majoritymajority ofof thethe ScottishScottish SkiSki industryindustry hashas vanishedvanished (more(more thanthan 50%)50%)
SnowfallSnowfall PatternsPatterns havehave dramaticallydramatically changedchanged
AlpineAlpine AreasAreas belowbelow 5,2505,250 feetfeet areare nownow receivingreceiving 20%20% lessless snowsnow
““WithinWithin 5050 yearsyears allall skiski resortsresorts belowbelow 4,0004,000 feetfeet wonwon ’’tt havehave aa chancechance andand willwill outout ofof businessbusiness ”” Michel Revaz of the Liechtenstein -based Alpine conservation society Cipra
Austria:Austria: 75%75% ofof skiski liftslifts areare builtbuilt belowbelow 3,2803,280 feetfeet Snowmaking:Snowmaking: ArtificialArtificial SnowSnow NeededNeeded

To prevent financial meltdowns, resorts are increasingly having to rely on making their own snow
Prior to 1990, it was unheard of to use snow -making equipment in the Swiss Alps. Now more than 15% depend on them and this is increasing every year.
In Italy and Austria, more than 40% need to make their own snow
Many resorts now are making twice the snow, with half the money when compared to 15 years ago SkiSki ResortsResorts == LargeLarge CarbonCarbon FootprintFootprint
SkiSki --tourismtourism inducedinduced traffictraffic pollutionpollution
IncreasingIncreasing urbanurban sprawlsprawl ofof hotelshotels andand vacationvacation homeshomes
VisuallyVisually intrusiveintrusive andand habitathabitat wreckingwrecking skiski liftslifts GreenGreen CommitmentCommitment BoostsBoosts BusinessBusiness
PositivePositive FeedbackFeedback fromfrom SkiersSkiers
OutdoorOutdoor EnthusiastsEnthusiasts moremore likelylikely toto choosechoose EnvironmentallyEnvironmentally friendlyfriendly resortsresorts
ProfitableProfitable Partnerships:Partnerships: skiski resortsresorts dealdeal withwith aa lotlot ofof partnershipspartnerships andand sponsorshipssponsorships andand windwind energyenergy useuse hashas attractedattracted companiescompanies toto dodo businessbusiness withwith themthem TheThe Solution:Solution: WindWind EnergyEnergy

PresidentPresident ObamaObama EarthEarth DayDay CommentsComments onon WindWind EnergyEnergy QuotesQuotes

““AmericaAmerica hashas thethe bestbest windwind resourcesresources inin thethe world.world. NotNot harvestingharvesting AmericaAmerica ’’ss windwind wouldwould bebe likelike goinggoing toto SaudiSaudi ArabiaArabia andand notnot drillingdrilling forfor oil.oil. ”” Ditlev Engel, Chief Executive of Vestas Wind Systems
TheThe DepartmentDepartment ofof EnergyEnergy sayssays windwind couldcould provideprovide 20%20% ofof thethe countrycountry ’’ss electricityelectricity byby 2030,2030, aboutabout whatwhat nuclearnuclear powerpower nownow provides,provides, andand keepkeep 180,000180,000 workersworkers busy.busy. Department of Energy, Forbes Magazine, Blade Runner WindWind PowerPower ResourceResource MapMap ItIt ’’ss GettingGetting PopularPopular ……

2007: 45% Growth
5,200 MegaWatts installed
Generating 16 billion kWh (AWEA)
2007=over 5k 2008=over 8k GrowthGrowth ofof WindWind PowerPower CapacityCapacity WorldwideWorldwide

Jan 2003 Cumulative MW Rest of World = 2,803 North America = 5,018 45000 Europe = 21,319

40000 d

e 35000

l l

a 30000

t s

n 25000

I

20000 W

M 15000

10000

5000

0 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

Actual Projected Rest of World Rest of World Year

North America North America Sources: BTM Consult Aps, March 2001 Windpower Monthly, January 2003 Europe Europe FunFun FactsFacts aboutabout WindWind

The U.S. contains enough useable wind resource to produce more electricity than the nation currently uses.
The majority of this usable resource is in the Great Plains region. North Dakota alone has enough suitable wind resource to supply 36 percent of the electricity consumed in the U.S.
In addition, development of major global wind energy markets could significantly impact jobs—recent studies show that each billion kilowatt-hours of annual wind energy generation creates between 440 to 460 jobs. SkiSki ResortsResorts HaveHave 22 choices:choices: CreditsCredits v.v. TurbinesTurbines
ImpossibilityImpossibility v.v. CostsCosts
PremiumsPremiums forfor CreditsCredits
KirkwoodKirkwood SkiSki ResortResort nearnear LakeLake TahoeTahoe isis lookinglooking atat installinginstalling 2020 turbinesturbines VailVail ResortsResorts inin ColoradoColorado

In August 2006, made a commitment to offset 100% of their energy use by purchasing 151,311 megawatt -hours of wind energy credits annually for all 5 of their resorts
Makes them the largest purchaser of 100% wind energy credits in the travel and leisure industry in the US, second largest in all categories
Their commitment will avoid about 211 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every year
This equals: taking 18,000 cars off the road or planting over 27,000 acres of trees WhatWhat isis aa REC?REC?

RenewableRenewable energyenergy creditcredit (aka(aka ““greengreen tagtag ””))
IsIs aa legallegal representationrepresentation ofof aa measuredmeasured amountamount ofof renewablerenewable energyenergy enteringentering thethe energyenergy systemsystem
AA RECREC representsrepresents oneone MegawattMegawatt --hourhour ofof renewablerenewable energyenergy enteringentering thethe powerpower gridgrid andand displacingdisplacing energyenergy thatthat wouldwould havehave beenbeen producedproduced throughthrough burningburning fossilfossil fuelsfuels suchsuch asas coalcoal oror naturalnatural gasgas RECREC continuedcontinued ……

EachEach RECREC reducesreduces approx.approx. 1,4001,400 lbslbs ofof greenhousegreenhouse gasesgases emissionsemissions
WhenWhen aa individualindividual oror companycompany purchasespurchases RECsRECs ,, theythey areare payingpaying aa voluntaryvoluntary premiumpremium inin orderorder toto supportsupport moremore renewablerenewable energyenergy inin thethe systemsystem
AsAs aa result,result, theythey getget toto claimclaim thethe legallegal creditcredit forfor supportingsupporting thethe environmentalenvironmental resultsresults associatedassociated withwith theirtheir purchasepurchase
TheirTheir dollarsdollars helphelp increaseincrease thethe amountamount ofof renewablerenewable energyenergy inin thethe systemsystem andand reducereduce pollutionpollution WindWind CreditsCredits

2222 resortsresorts inin 77 statesstates useuse windwind powerpower creditscredits toto supplysupply 100%100% ofof theirtheir electricityelectricity
TogetherTogether thethe areasareas produceproduce 305,074,498305,074,498 kilowattkilowatt --hourshours ofof cleanclean electricityelectricity andand keepkeep aboutabout 372,383,234372,383,234 poundspounds ofof carboncarbon dioxidedioxide fromfrom enteringentering atmosphereatmosphere
TheThe emissionsemissions --reductionreduction efforteffort isis equalequal toto plantingplanting almostalmost 1515 millionmillion treestrees oror eliminatingeliminating nearlynearly 150,000150,000 roundround --triptrip flightsflights betweenbetween NYNY andand SanSan FranciscoFrancisco WindWind CreditsCredits continuedcontinued ……

WindWind powerpower creditscredits costcost moremore thanthan conventionalconventional electricity,electricity, butbut participatingparticipating resortsresorts describedescribe thethe financialfinancial premiumpremium asas modestmodest
SugarSugar Bowl,Bowl, forfor example,example, consideredconsidered usingusing onlyonly partialpartial windwind energy,energy, butbut discovereddiscovered thatthat premiumpremium waswas soso reasonablereasonable thatthat theythey decideddecided toto gogo 100%100%
DifferenceDifference waswas onlyonly aboutabout $30,000,$30,000, whichwhich toto aa largelarge resortresort likelike SugarSugar Bowl,Bowl, thatthat amountamount cancan bebe easilyeasily spentspent onon aa radioradio advertisingadvertising campaigncampaign HowHow RenewableRenewable WindWind CreditsCredits WorkWork

HowHow WindWind TurbinesTurbines WorkWork
Yaw drive : ensures the turbine is producing the maximum amount of power by keeping rotor facing the wind (for horizontal axis turbines) CommonCommon DesignDesign

Most common design is the three-bladed turbine. The most important reason is the stability of the turbine. A rotor with an odd number of rotor blades (and at least three blades) can be considered to be similar to a disc when calculating the dynamic properties of the machine.
A rotor with an even number of blades will give stability problems for a machine with a stiff structure. The reason is that at the very moment when the uppermost blade bends backwards, because it gets the maximum power from the wind, the lowermost blade passes into the wind shade in front of the tower. SizesSizes andand ApplicationsApplications

Small ( ≤10 kW) Intermediate Homes (10-250 kW) Farms Power Remote Application Hybrid Systems Distributed Power

Large (660 kW - 2+MW) • Central Station Wind Farms • Distributed Power • Community Wind SizeSize MattersMatters

Typical dimensions for a 2 Mw turbine * 80m nacelle height * 60m rotor diameter * 125m blade tip height CostCost

The cost for commercial scale turbines range from $1.2 million to $2.6 million, per MW of nameplate capacity installed in 2007
Now, $3.5 million installed for a 2 MW InstallationInstallation

Installation costs can be costly
Logistics Example: 500 tons of parts and equipment had to be transported along a two -mile, 26% grade road up the mountain, including 123 -foot - long blades
Transportation biggest issue TurbineTurbine MaintenanceMaintenance

It is estimated that maintenance generally costs about 1 cent per kWh produced in regular fields
On top of mountains, more likely about 1.3 cents per kWh produced
Lifespan on mountain = 30 -50 years
However, electrical and structural components have longer design life
Examples: tower, foundation, and interconnection equipment ProceduralProcedural MattersMatters forfor InstallingInstalling WindWind TurbinesTurbines

Measure Wind for a designated period of time
Environmental and Community assessments
Federal Aviation Regulations
Public consultation sessions
Applications for permits JiminyJiminy PeakPeak MountainMountain ResortResort JiminyJiminy PeakPeak andand thethe RecessionRecession

Astronomical costs in regards to snow making
Cost $4 million
Produces one -third of the resorts electrical needs
Shaves about $450,000 a year off electrical bill
Draws more visitors because of interest
In summer, trickles down left over electricity into town
While many businesses are closing their doors, Jiminy Peak is 12% ahead of their best year
Expects to earn more than $200,000 a year by selling power through the National Grid utility and producing tax credits CriticismsCriticisms ofof WindWind TurbinesTurbines

WindWind powerpower isis anan intermittentintermittent powerpower sourcesource
WildlifeWildlife dangersdangers
EstheticsEsthetics
AirAir TrafficTraffic
NoiseNoise
IcingIcing inin ColdCold ClimatesClimates
DeforestationDeforestation
DangerDanger ofof CollapsesCollapses WildlifeWildlife AffectedAffected

– Bats
– Raptors
– Passerines
– Waterbirds/Waterfowl BatBat MortalityMortality

In 2003, large numbers of bats (1,400–4,000) were killed at the Mountaineer Wind Energy Center in West Virginia
Seem to be most affected during their fall migration, which lasts from late summer to early autumn
Furthermore, evidence shows that bats are dying from hemorrhaging, not getting hit by the blade
This is caused because a low-pressure system by the turbines BirdBird IssuesIssues

Birds often collide with high voltage overhead lines, masts, poles, and windows of buildings. They are also killed by cars in traffic. However, birds are seldom bothered by wind turbines.
The only known site with bird collision problems is located in the Altamont Pass in California.
Danish Ministry of the Environment study revealed that power lines are a much greater danger to birds than the wind turbines.
Some birds even nest on cages on Wind Towers. BirdsBirds ContinuedContinued …… AestheticsAesthetics
Visibility impact depends on height, topography, and direction
Comparable to utility poles, water towers, cellular phone towers, or satellite dishes
Property rights and contribution to electricity supply should be weighed against aesthetic concerns AirAir TrafficTraffic SafetySafety

Federal Aviation Administration does not require lighting on towers less than 200 feet tall
Approval only needed for structures more than 200 feet tall or within 10,000- 20,000 feet of runways
Lights must be installed NoiseNoise ProblemProblem

 Sound from Wind Turbines - Increasing tip speed  less sound - The closest neighbor is usually 300 m  experiences almost no noise

 Dependent upon ambient conditions - New technology - Older = Louder - Higher Speeds = Less Noise - Masked by Sound of Wind NoiseNoise ChartChart

Background noise usually masks wind turbine noise
A noise reading taken 25 feet away from a turbine will drop by a factor of four at 50 feet, and by a factor of 16 at 1000 feet TurbinesTurbines inin ColdCold ClimatesClimates

Severe Icing Problems are a serious consideration IcingIcing ofof WindWind TurbinesTurbines AffectsAffects

WT Design Safety Economics - Aerodynamics - Ice Throw - Energy Production - Loads - Unbalance - Site Prognosis - Dynamics - Resonance - Wind Measurem - Control System - Over Power - Design Life Time - Instrumentation - Fatigue - Wind Turbine - Material Equipment SolutionsSolutions AvailableAvailable

Reduction of power output under different types of icing conditions
Aerodynamics and loads of iced blades
Methods to measure icing
Blade heating systems
Ice free wind sensors
Safety distances due to ice throw
Low temperature effects assessments/studies
Zephyr is designed to shut down during icing conditions, and will not restart until the ice has all melted off the tower and the blades DeforestationDeforestation

Very similar issue with chair lifts
Very wind turbine requires up to 5 acres of deforestation
Deforestation already exists in ski areas
Benefit might outweigh cost of deforestation here in the end TurbineTurbine CollapsesCollapses

Cause: Wind turbines are equipped with a pitch control system that shuts down when a loss of power occurs. Without, this turbine will spin faster than its design allows.
Result: Pieces of the turbine flying off and causing property damage CollapsesCollapses continuedcontinued ……

OnlyOnly aa handfulhandful ofof thesethese incidentsincidents havehave occurredoccurred inin thethe UnitedUnited StatesStates == RareRare occurrenceoccurrence
LawsLaws inin placeplace toto protectprotect citizenscitizens thatthat livelive closeclose toto turbinesturbines –– Example:Example: TownTown ofof AltonaAltona ’’ss WindWind LawLaw statesstates thatthat windwind energyenergy facilitiesfacilities mustmust bebe locatedlocated 500500 feetfeet fromfrom thethe nearestnearest publicpublic roadroad –– InIn thethe Mountains,Mountains, thisthis willwill notnot bebe aa concernconcern ActualActual CollapseCollapse inin DenmarkDenmark SmallSmall ResortsResorts ……SmallSmall TurbinesTurbines

PiecePiece ofof propertyproperty withwith highhigh windswinds almostalmost dailydaily
SignificantSignificant financialfinancial incentivesincentives thatthat cancan helphelp financefinance overover halfhalf thethe costcost
InvestmentInvestment cancan yieldyield aa returnreturn ofof 200%200% oror moremore overover 2525 --3030 years,years, aa veryvery strongstrong longlong --termterm investmentinvestment opportunityopportunity OtherOther OptionsOptions SkiSki ResortsResorts areare usingusing otherother thanthan WindWind EnergyEnergy
California ’s Mammoth Mountain is using solar power to generate electricity and forced air heating in its lift shacks. Mammoth has installed solar heating panels on the lift shack at the top of Thunder Bound Express and in other small, outlying buildings as well.
In addition to powering almost all of its lifts with green power, Sundance Resort in Utah is be providing free public transportation to pass holders, offering a discount to carpooling guests, and using energy -efficient lighting throughout the resort.
At British Columbia's Whistler Blackcomb resort, construction is expected to end in November on a $32 million hydro electric power project that will offset the annual energy consumption at the ski area. The Fitzsimmons Creek Hydro Project will produce 33.5 gigawatt hours of electricity a year, enough to send the facility into greenhouse gas production deficit, said Arthur De Jong , mountain planning manager. WhereWhere areare wewe now?now?

There are now 68 ski resorts purchasing green, renewable energy for their operations
Of these resorts, 34 are 100% green powered.
Furthermore, these resorts are also applying energy efficient green building techniques
GREEN SKIING SELLS!
Examples 1010 WaysWays toto bebe aa GreenerGreener SkierSkier

1) Take the Train
2) Slash your own CO2 emissions
3) Choose an environmentally aware resort
4) Use local public transport
5) Keep litter off the slopes (at high altitude orange peel can take up to 2 years to break down and cigarette butts up to 5 years
6) Offset your carbon emissions
7) Consider other winter sports
8) Encourage environmental responsibility with the winter sports industry (make sure the skiing has a written environmental policy)
9) Respect the mountain habitat and wildlife (minimize off - piste skiing)
10) Choose a smaller, closer resort SourcesSources
Is it Possible to Ski Without Ruining the Environment? www.commondreams.org , The Independent/UK, February 6, 2006
Ski Resorts: Go for the Green Run , Patrick Thorne October 20, 2007
Ski Area Sees Green from Wind Turbine , www.msnbc.com , The Associated Press, March 2, 2009
Ski Area Action , www.keepwintercool.org
www.jiminypeak.com
Obama Plant that Builds Wind Turbine Towers, Calls for ‘New Era ’ in Energy Exploration , www.chicagotribune.com , The Associated Press, Mike Glover and Philip Elliott, April 23 , 2009
How Renewable Energy Credits Work , www.renewablechoice.com
Ski Resorts Go Green with Wind Power , www.nationalgeographic.com , National Geographic News, Brian Handwerk , January 9, 2007
Company Explains Cause of Turbine Collapse , www.msnbc.com , WPTZ -TV, March 17, 2009
www.vailresorts.com
www.wikipedia.org
Snowmaking Expands as Ski Season Approaches , www.msnbc.com , The Associated Press, February 22, 2007
www.leitwind.com
www.eere.energy.gov
Large Wind Turbines Go Into Cold Climate Regions , Finnish Meteorological Institute, Bengt Tammelin and Henry Seifert, July 6, 2001
Wind Power Helps Ski Resort During Recession , www.cnn.com , Ayesha Tejpar , March 18, 2009
www.youtube.com
www.awea.org
www.nsaa.org
www.nrel.org
“Wildlife and Wind Power ,” by Tim Sullivan, US Fish and Wildlife Service, New York Field O ffice www.americanwildlifeconservationfoundation.org
“Wind Power: A Sustainable Solution ,” by Jamie Eppolite , September 2008
“Global Warming and Winter Recreation ,” by Jon Schleder