Wind farms: green versus green

The typical situation that interests an environmental economist is "brown versus green." The polluter (brown) generates jobs, other benefits of economic activity, and pollution (i.e., external costs). Those who suffer the external cost (the greens) oppose the source of the pollution. Here is a recent example.

But what happens when it is green versus green? There is much written these days about high oil prices and the need to switch to cleaner fuels, such as wind power. Congress is about to pass an energy bill with subsidies for renewables. If you support this effort you're a greenie, right? But what about wind farms? A recent Wilwaukee Journal-Sentinel article describes a wind farm that threatens "birds and bats":

The 200-megawatt project across 50 square miles would be located just east of the Horicon Marsh - a state and federal refuge that has long been a mecca for birds and other wildlife.

The $250 million wind farm, called Forward Wind Energy Center, could meet the electrical needs of 72,000 homes, according to the state Public Service Commission.

[...]

Since it was first proposed, there have been concerns by opponents, and even government agencies, such as the state Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, that the 133 wind turbines could harm migratory birds and bats if the turbines were too close to the marsh.

The Horicon Marsh protectors, hunters, wildlife observers, etc. are greenies too. But, they oppose the other, renewable energy, greenies. Sounds strange but this situation is not unusual. The proposed wind farm in Natucket Sound interferes with boating and fishing. Small scale wind farms in the North Carolina mountains are opposed becaused they detract from mountain views.

What is the environmental economist to do? Well, again, how about a benefit-cost analysis? We could try to balance the benefits of wind energy against its cost, including the reduction in the value of visual amenities. As it turns out, the guys on either side of me in the Department of Economics at AppState are looking at both sides of this issue. Stayed tuned for posts from both in the late summer or early fall.

Comments

[Lurker]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/24/nyregion/24golisano.html

Amid Rolling Hills, a Push Against Whirling Turbines

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By MICHELLE YORK
Published: July 24, 2005

PRATTSBURGH, N.Y., July 19 - At age 59, Tom Cadigan says he is "winding down."

A few years ago, he sold his appliance store in a neighboring town so he and his wife, Kay, could move to a mobile home on land they own here. On summer evenings, they like to take in the view of the rolling hillsides that surround their home and watch the birds visit their backyard feeder. "It's very, very peaceful," he said.

But lately, Mr. Cadigan and hundreds of others are concerned that the tranquility of this rural community, 60 miles south of Rochester, may be disrupted by wind farms.

Gov. George E. Pataki's call to increase the state's so-called green energy 6 percent by 2013 has prompted a flurry of proposals that could add 46 wind farms to the three that already exist in the state. The two wind farms proposed in Prattsburgh would add 90 wind turbines that stand roughly 400 feet tall - higher, opponents like to say, than the Statue of Liberty. "My gosh, it looks like there's going to be five around us," Mr. Cadigan said. "The whole neighborhood could be driven right out."

In many cases, the wind-farm proposals are pitting the people who would benefit financially from them - including local governments and the land owners willing to lease their property - against those who would not benefit, especially neighbors who say they worry the turbines will drive down the market value of their homes and intrude upon their lives.

Many of the wind farms are proposed for small agricultural communities with few other development options to consider. "I feel like it's a done deal," said Mr. Cadigan, adding, "I'm not a crusader."

But he has the support of a powerful ally. Tom Golisano, a billionaire who lives in the region and is a potential 2006 candidate for governor, has started a nonprofit organization called Save Upstate New York, which aims to galvanize people like Mr. Cadigan.

The organization is not opposed to all wind farm development, Mr. Golisano said, but would like to limit it. "I've grown up here and lived here all my life, and I couldn't imagine an absolutely beautiful area with the turbines and all that came with it - the noise, the strobe lights, the shadows and the ice throws," he said.

Common complaints against turbines are that their huge blades create a constant whoosh-whoosh-whoosh sound as they spin. In the winter, the blades can throw ice. The turbines require constant lighting as a marker for small planes. Then there is the issue of efficiency. Electrical energy is most needed in the summer, but wind turbines create the most energy in the winter, when it is generally more windy.

[David Bullock]

I'm a rural landowner who purchased my property for the pastoral tranquility. Now there is proposed windfarm to go directly across the valley. Has anyone information about successful thwarting of wind farm siting? Any information welcome.