This handbook was developed by the American Wind Energy Association's Siting Committee to inform wnd energy developers and other interested parties about environmental siting issues relevant to land-based commercial-scale wind energy project development in the United States.

Developed By:  American Wind Energy Association

Contributors/Authors:  Tetra Tech EC, Inc, and Nixon Peabody, LLP

Original Publish Date:  February 2008

A White Peper by the US Department of Energy examining the potential of meeting the goal of having 20% of U.S. electricity come from wind by 2030.  Key issues examined:  Does the nation have sufficient wind energy resources?  What are the wind technology requirements?  Does sufficient manufacturing capability exist?  What are some of teh key impacts?  Can the electric network accomodate 20% wind?  What are the environmental impacts?  Is the scenario feasible?

The purpose of this white paper is to describe the existing domestic wind farm development landscape and outline issues to consider before and during wind-energy projects. As a second component, this paper addresses ways to work proactively with communities to avoid conflict, as well as outline legal defense strategies should nuisance lawsuits arise.

Developed By: Lynn, Tillotson and Pinker, LLP

Author: Trey Cox

Wind turbines generate sound via various routes, both mechanical and aerodynamic. As the technology has advanced, wind turbines have gotten much quieter, but sound from wind turbines is still an important siting criterion. Sound emissions from wind turbine have been one of the more studied environmental impact areas in wind energy engineering. Sound levels can be measured, but, similar to other environmental concerns, the public's perception of the acoustic impact of wind turbines is, in part, a subjective determination.

Published By:  Renewable Energy Research Laboratory.  University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Authors:  Anthony Rogers, James Manwell, Sally Wright
URL:  www.ceere.org/rerl
Published:  January 2006

Wind, one of the lowest cost renewable energy resources, would be very likely to provide a large
part of the renewable energy developed under any national program using these two support
mechanisms. Since the best wind resource is in the upper Great Plains region, it is reasonable to
conclude that a large portion of the wind developed to meet a national standard will be in that
region. Some have interpreted that to mean that a majority of the benefits from a national policy
would flow to that region. That conclusion is shortsighted because it neglects to look at the chain
of manufacturing related to components and sub-components that go into constructing a modern
wind generator. While the economic benefits produced by the construction and operation phases
of wind development are important and significant, a substantial portion of the benefits from the
investment will result from manufacturing the equipment and will flow to those states and
localities that either have or can develop the firms to supply the subcomponents.

Prepared By:  Renewable Energy Policy Project
Author:  George Sterzinger & Matt Svreck
URL:  www.repp.org
Publish Date:  9/04

The wind created by the movement of the electric vehicle during normal operations can provide sufficient
electrical energy to recharge the electric vehicle batteries and provide for the use of accessories.

Prepared by:  Trinity Energy
Author: Terry A. Miers
URL: http://www.trinityenergyapplications.com
Publish Date:  4/2009

This paper discusses the generation of energy from wind resources on the Oouter Continental Shelf.  Resource potential and technologies for capturing the energy in the wind are discussed.  Major environmental and economic considerations that can be surmised from literature and environmental studies that are available at this time for the development of this energy resource are listed.  Companion papers in the series address the generation of energy on the OCS from waves, solar radiation, and ocean currents, and the transportation of energy generated on the OCS to onshore as electricity or in the form of hydrogen.

Prepared by:  US Department of the Interior
URL:  http://ocsenergy.anl.gov
Publish Date: May 05

The objective of this paper is to examine the transmission policy issues around wind and
renewable sources of generation. Reliability and commercial issues are reviewed, both in the US and abroad, and recommendations are provided for effective integration of wind sources into the US electric system.

Prepared By: National Grid
URL:  http://www.nationalgridus.com
 

The Wind Energy Deployment System model was used to estimate the costs and benefits associated with producing 20% of the nation’s electricity from wind technology by 2030. This generation capacity expansion model selects from electricity generation technologies that include pulverized coal plants, combined cycle natural gas plants, combustion turbine natural gas plants, nuclear plants, and wind technology to meet projected demand in future years. Technology cost and performance projections, as well as transmission operation and expansion costs, are assumed. This study demonstrates that producing 20% of the nation’s projected electricity demand in 2030 from wind technology is technically feasible, not cost-prohibitive, and provides benefits in the forms of carbon emission reductions, natural gas price reductions, and water savings.

Prepared By:  National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Authors:  M. Hand & N. Blair et al
URL:  http://www.nrel.gov

 

Wind is the fastest-growing form of renewable energy in the United States. For example,
from 1991 to 2002, the production of electricity from wind turbines in the United States has
more than doubled, a growth rate faster than any other form of power generation. Today there are more than 25,000 MW of wind generation installed worldwide, with more than 4600 MW in the United States alone. Thirteen U.S. states have more than 20 MW installed, and the number is expected to double by 2010.

This white paper will review the status of wind power today, addressing basic wind power
technologies, recent federal and state initiatives, interconnection and transmission issues,
potential impacts  on distribution cooperatives and generation and transmission cooperatives(G&Ts), wind energy from the point of view of consumers, and wind energy economics. It is beyond the paper’s scope to evaluate predictions and proposed target goals regarding future wind energy generation. But it is clear that electric cooperatives will increasingly be required to understand and address wind power from technical, consumer, utility, and regulatory points of view.

Prepared By:  National Rural Electric Cooperative Associationa
Author:  www.nreca.org

The assessment of a wind power project is an iterative process which continues from the
preliminary concept stage to the detailed specification stage. A number of areas need to be
investigated, any one of which may cause a project to fail, and it is therefore sensible, for any
project, to obtain a preliminary understanding of the key factors in the early stages of an
assessment. Some of the main questions to answer are:

• What is the wind speed at the proposed site?
• How close is the site to a suitable connection point on the electricity distribution system
and how much will such a connection cost?
• What is the likelihood of obtaining planning permission?
• Is the site accessible for construction traffic?
• How much will the development cost to construct?
• How will the electricity be sold and at what price?
• How is the project to be financed?
• What are the financial returns on the investment?