WIND: THE GOOD AND THE BAD

The most amazing thing about this story is how negatively the NY Times headlined it:
Wind Farms May Not Lower Air Pollution, Study Suggests: That is not really what the story is about at all. It is mainly concerned with bird and bat safety and largely concludes wind turbines are not proven to harm bird and bat populations.

Wind farms useful but may threaten birds
Randolph E. Schmid, May 3, 2007 (AP via Yahoo News)
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WHO
National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, Chairman of reporting committee Paul G. Risser (University of Oklahoma and acting director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History)

WHAT
The Research Council’s report is a thorough account of wind’s value as a renewable energy and potential problems associated with it. Wind could generate up to 7% of US electricity in 15 years.

WHEN
Findings were reported May 3. Wind energy development began in 1980. In 2006, 11,605 megawatts of electricity were generated, under 1% of US electricity.

WHERE
Wind energy is in 36 states.

WHY
Conclusions:
- By 2020, wind could offset 4.5% of carbon dioxide emissions, less in mid-Atlantic region where wind is irregular;
- Wind will not affect already controlled nitrous oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions in mid-Atlantic region;
- Turbines may harm bats in mid-Atlantic highlands (preliminary studies), especially on ridges;
- No evidence of harm to bird populations nationwide (except the old style Altamont wind farm) though there is a dearth of study;
- Aesthetic considerations and various human impacts (historic, sacred, archaeological resources, recreation sites and electromagnetic interference with tv/radio, cell phones, radar) are not addressed;
- Wind farms may cause soil erosion and noise;
- State and local governments should work with wind developers and NGOs to establish regulation and gudiance.

QUOTES
- Risser: "The human impacts of wind farms can be both positive and negative…"
- Report co-author Mary English, University of Tennessee: “There is a great diversity of opinion on how much there is going to be a ramping up of wind energy…"
- Betsy Loyless, Audubon Society: "…properly sited wind power holds great promise as a source of renewable energy that can reduce global warming pollution…our challenge is to design and locate wind-power projects to minimize the negative impacts on birds. It is essential that industrywide environmental safeguards be developed so that each wind project can be considered on its own merits with appropriate studies before and after construction."
- Frank Maisano, wind developer spokesman: "Wind power is an essential element of the solution to both climate change and America's exponentially increasing demand for electricity…"