Transcript Alternative Energy in Wayne County

Acting Locally-Impacting Globally
Alternative Energy in
Wayne County
Is our future in the wind?
The Alternative Energy Task
Force of Wayne County
Wind Power Technology and Siting
Issues
Presentation Outline
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
About the Alternative Energy Task Force
New York’s Current Energy Mix
Why Wind Power?
Community Concerns and Siting Issues
Conclusion
About The Alternative Energy
Task Force of Wayne County
The Alternative Energy Task
Force of Wayne County
• Formed in 2006 as a not-for-profit
organization.
• Based in Lyons, New York.
• Comprised of local community
members.
• Our Mission Statement:
“Our mission is to determine ways to
deploy alternative energy solutions in
the Wayne County area that will
benefit our communities. Our goals
include reducing and controlling costs,
fostering cooperation and promoting
economic growth.”
Activities:
• Advocate for clean energy at the local, New York State Legislative,
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and US Congressional levels.
Actively educate opinion leaders and the public about the benefits
of clean energy.
Promote alternative solutions to Municipal, School and
public/private entities (i.e. Sodus, Newark School districts,
Sodus Village Water, Community Wind Project, Parker-Hannafin
(Lyons).
Serve as the leading voice for clean energy through the media and
informational website.
Serve as a conduit for “Green” business opportunities for our
region through networking activities and ongoing
communications.
Communicate and affiliate with like minded organizations to
enhance our knowledge and understanding, and to strengthen our
ability to promote alternative energy solutions (i.e. ACENY).
ii. New
York’s Current
Generation Mix
Information courtesy
of ACENY
Impacts of Current Generating
Practices
• Sulfur Dioxide
"Acid rain”
• Carbon Dioxide
" Global warming”
• Nitrogen Dioxide
" Smog”
• Health Impacts
" Asthma,Mercury poisoning, etc.”
•
Safety and Security Concerns
Information
courtesy of ACENY
NYS Coal Power Plants
NYS Coal - Air pollution:
* 19,772,092 tons of carbon
dioxide
• (climate change)
* 25,379 tons of nitrogen oxides
• (smog)
* 121,160 tons of sulfur dioxides
• (acid rain)
* 762 pounds of mercury
• (neurological damage)
60 percent of mercury in
Northeast comes from regional
sources
Information
courtesy of ACENY
Today’s Reality
NYS Oil Power Plants
NYS Nuclear Power
Plants
• 12 percent of NYS
• 29 percent of NYS
* 32 million barrels of oil per year
* 87 percent from foreign sources
* 10.6 million tons of CO2
(climate change)
* 46,000 tons of SO2 (acid rain)
* 12,000 tons of NOX (smog)
*
electricity comes from 6
nuclear power plants
electricity comes from oilfired power plants
Still no viable means of
disposal
* Security presents safety and
cost issue
Information
courtesy of ACENY
Cost to Ratepayers of Imported Fuels for Electricity
– 2004 (8.7 billion total)
Fuel Type
Amount Used
Cost $
Coal
10.3 million
tons
Oil
31.4 million
barrels
18.8 billion
kilowatt hours
$1.7 billion
241 billion
decatherms
$2.1 billion
Electricity
Natural Gas
$561 million
$2.3 billion
Information
courtesy of ACENY
NY Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)
NY State policy goal of 25 percent renewable
electricity by 2013 established by Governor Pataki
and the NYS PSC
•Currently 18-19 percent - mostly from hydropower
Environmental benefits:
* Improved air quality: 5 – 7 percent reduction in nitrogen
oxides (smog), sulfur dioxides (acid rain) and carbon
dioxide (climate change).
* Avoided resource use. Every kilowatt of wind power will
displace coal, oil, or gas generated electricity.
Information
courtesy of ACENY
iii. Why Wind Power?
Wind Power is Growing Worldwide
1. Germany: 18,428 MW
2. Spain: 10,027 MW
3. USA: 9,149 MW
4. India: 4,430 MW
5. Denmark: 3,122 MW
Global Cumulative Installed Capacity
1995 - 2005
Global Capacity Has Increased By 25 Percent Last Year Alone!
Why Wind Power?
•
Emissions Free
* No Pollution
• Fuel Free
*Energy Independence
• Predictable Price
*Not subject to outside factors
• Economic Development Tool
Information
courtesy of ACENY
Job growth from wind power
* Temporary (construction) and full-time (operation and
maintenance) positions come from wind farms
* For every 10 - 20 turbines installed, one operation-and
maintenance job is created
* In addition to direct jobs created, projects also support job
creation within the community through the provision of
goods and services (ex. lodging, meals, supplies, etc.)
* Phase I of the Maple Ridge project (120 turbines) created
400 construction jobs. When entirely finished in 2006 with
195 turbines, the project will create 10 - 15 full-time jobs
Information
courtesy of ACENY
Other economic benefits
* Wind power operating costs are relatively fixed.
* Wind power fixed prices help keep other prices lower
during electric price increases
* Supplemental income to landowners, frequently
farmers, in the form of lease payments
* Keeps energy dollars in state: currently 5 percent of
power generated in state comes from fossil fuels
purchased out of state
Information
courtesy of ACENY
Economic Development
•Wind farms bring economic development to
communities through Payments in Lieu of Taxes
(PILOTs)
• In Madison County for instance:
* $150,000 per year is paid to the Town of Fenner
* $60,000 per year is paid to Town of Madison and school district
• Other business developments receive property tax
breaks: from (IDAs) and other governmental entities:
* utility plants,
* manufacturing facilities, and
* non-profit organizations
Information
courtesy of ACENY
iv. Community Concerns
& Siting Issues
Aesthetics
•
Beauty is in eye of beholder:
"Some see “kinetic art”
"Some see “industrial giants”
• Turbines generally viewed from significant
distance
•Layout of wind farm can mitigate viewshed
impact
Information
courtesy of ACENY
Information
courtesy of ACENY
Shadow Flicker
•Sun low in sky; sunbeam interrupted by rotating
turbine blade
*Seasonally dependent
Ice Shedding
*Small pieces of ice may be thrown; larger pieces
typically drop within blade length from tower – not
Thrown
*Worldwide—no case of injury known
Information
courtesy of ACENY
Minimizing Impacts
Noise, shadow flicker and ice shedding issues
can all be minimized by proper setbacks and
turbine siting.
Property Value Impacts:
• Bard Center for Environmental Policy study, May, 2006:
” The report finds no measurable effects of windmill visibility on
property values.”
• Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP) study,
May, 2003:
“The statistical analysis of all property sales in the view shed
and the comparable community provides no evidence that wind
development has harmed property values within the view shed.
There is no valid empirical support for claims that wind
development will harm property values.”
• Phoenix Economic Development Group study, October, 2002:
“Views of wind turbines will not negatively impact property
values. Based on a nation-wide survey conducted of tax
assessors in … areas with wind power projects, we found no
evidence supporting the claim that views of wind farms
decrease property values.”
v. Conclusions
• Adding wind power to New York’s electric
grid offers substantial benefits, particularly
to rural NY communities.
•While there are siting issues to be
considered, all are surmountable.
•Early public education, dialogue and
involvement are essential to successful
projects.
Information
courtesy of ACENY
Resources
www.aceny.org
Alliance for Clean Energy New York
www.awea.org
American Wind Energy Association
www.nationalwind.org
National Wind Coordinating Committee
Wayne County can become 40-50%
green county by 2013 with your help!
Acting Locally-Impacting Globally