Transcript Inventory of Faculty Wind Energy Research, Technology

Wind In Michigan: Opportunities
and challenges
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, Renewable Energy
Conference
March 20th, 2010
Charles McKeown
Renewable Energy Policy Program Manager
Land Policy Institute, MSU
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Created in 2006 as the “Brainbox” on land, place and
prosperity science in Michigan
Mission of integrated research, outreach & engagement
From reactive land use to proactive land policy
Our partners:
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Our stakeholders (MML, MAR, MEC, MUCC, MFB, Suburbs
Alliance, MEDA, WMSA, Chambers, MTA, Next Energy, MLUI,
GLC, GLWC, Prima Civitas, Leap, City Mayors and Councils, etc).
Governor’s Office, and the Legislature
State/local govt (MEDC, MPSC, DELEG, MDA, DNR, Cities, DEQ,
etc)
CANR
Research &
Graduate
Studies
Provost’s
Office
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Where We Are
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Energy has become one of the most challenging and
important land use issues in recent decades.
Demand for energy in the developing world will continue to
grow into the foreseeable future.
Competition for energy resources and the development of
homegrown energy resources will be core policy issues of
the future at the federal and state level.
The U.S and Michigan’s economies were built predicated on
energy as a cheap resource, that’s why volatility and rising
prices have dramatic impact on economic performance.
Energy policy is now part of our overall national, and state
economic strategies.
Renewable Energy Challenges
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Solve a large part of the
global climate change crisis.
Renew American innovation
and Entrepreneurship.
Revitalize the National
Manufacturing Base.
 Revitalize Michigan's
Manufacturing Base.
Create energy Security and
Reduce or Eliminate our
Economy's Dependence on
Imported Energy.
Provide National Security.
Why an Integrated Assessment on Wind Energy?
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Michigan has significant
underutilized wind
capacity.
 99 percent gap in
current vs.
estimated capacity.
Despite broad general
support for wind
energy, proposed
developments are
frequently met with
local resistance.
100m Wind Resource
Cutoff at 6.5m/s
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Overview of IA
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Three Study Areas:
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Presque Isle County, Rogers City
Area.
Bay County, Essexville Area.
Keweenaw, Houghton, Marquette
and Baraga Area.
Step 1: Document status and trends
of environmental, social, and
economic conditions.
Step 2: Describe environmental,
social, and economic causes and
consequences of conditions and
trends.
Step 3: Provide forecasts of
conditions under various policy
options.
Step 4: Develop guidance for
implementing each option.
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Puppies
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Puppies?
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@%^$)*# Puppies!
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Wind Energy
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Wind Energy?
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#$%^*# Wind Energy
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Stakeholder process
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LPI views this as a stakeholder-focused assessment.
Identify and meet with key stakeholders (government,
business, and NGO) in each study area.
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Review Wind Prospecting Tool.
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Identify local ordinances.
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Collect “social values data”.
Summarize technical, policy, social issues, and key areas of
uncertainty in an “issue booklet”.
Information and deliberation sessions with random sample
of residents in study areas.
Pre- and post-session surveys of public attitudes on wind
turbine development.
Report back to key stakeholders.
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Concerns we have heard…
Environmental
Pros
Cons
 Renewable
 Avian Mortality
Energy Source
 Habitat
 Clean
Destruction in
Energy/Fewer
Forested Areas
Emissions
 Construction
 Visible Source of
Impacts of
Power/Reminds
Generation and
People of Energy
Transmission
Use
Info Gaps/Remaining
Questions
 Effects of lighting on
birds/wildlife
 Effects on wildlife beyond
birds/bats
 Environmental impacts of
construction, transmission,
maintenance, etc.
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Concerns we have heard…
Visual
Pros
Cons
Info Gaps/Remaining Questions
 Visually Intrusive  Visual effects of transmission, roads,
 Scale Does Not
and construction
Fit Landscape
 Public attitudes of wind farms after
 Disturbance of
construction
Pristine
Landscapes
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Concerns we have heard…
Quality of Life
Pros
Cons
 Attention/Publicity  Public Health/Safety Risks
for Community
 Noise in Natural Areas/Rural
Communities
 Construction Effects
 Shadow Flicker
 Lack of Experience in
Siting/Constructing Turbines in
Populated Areas
 Public Opposition/Conflict
Info Gaps/Remaining
Questions
 More data on effects of
noise in rural areas
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Concerns we have heard…
Economic
Pros
Cons
 Energy
 Lower Energy Costs
 “Green” Economic
Development
 Jobs
 Income for Land Owners
 Tax Revenue for
Municipalities
 Feasibility in Area
 Profits Leave
Community
 Development Costs
 Higher Utility Rates
Info Gaps/Remaining
Questions
 More information on
effects to property taxes
 Benefit/Cost Analysis
 Local benefits/costs
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Concerns we have heard…
Fairness…
Pros
 Local Control via
Zoning Authority
Cons
 Uncontrolled Development in Areas
without Ordinances
 Exploitation of Communities/Land
Owners
 Weak Standards
 Inconsistent Standards within
Counties/Regions
 Development on One Property Might
Limit Development on Neighboring
Properties
 Decommissioning/Removal of Projects
 Lack of Transparency in Development
Info Gaps/Remaining Questions
 Role of counties/state in
setting standards
 Can private lands be
condemned for wind farm
development
 Do citizens have a say in
planning/siting?
 More assistance needed in
developing ordinances
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Wicked Public Policy Problem…
"Wicked problem" --- a problem that is difficult or impossible to solve
because of incomplete, contradictory, and changing requirements that
are often difficult to recognize. Moreover, because of complex
interdependencies, the effort to solve one aspect of a wicked problem
may reveal or create other problems.
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Global renewable energy movement.
Sustainability movement.
Energy export dollars and economic development.
Potential to capture manufacturing in Michigan.
Horribly weak economy.
Huge wind resource.
Where the rubber meets the road is in local communities.
Nuclear
$696 Million
Oil
$11 million
Natural Gas
$112 Million
Coal
$2.1 Billion
Wicked Problem Not Easily Resolved
•Barriers:
•Mindset 1.
•NIMBY - Not in my Backyard.
•NIL - Not in the lakes.
•BANANA - Build absolutely nothing
anywhere near anything.
•Mindset 2.
•Wind is the answer to all that ails us and
more education of the ignorant will solve
the problem.
Wicked Problem Not Easily Resolved
•Absence of local planning models.
•Absence of knowledge.
•Economic, rate impacts, environmental impacts,
social impacts, property value impacts,
tertiary/ancillary impacts.
•Absence of local discourse and participatory
planning.
•Polarized debate.
Thank You.
For More Information or to contact the Land
Policy Institute:
www.landpolicy.msu.edu
517-432-8800
[email protected]