This presentation looks at how wind turbines are effecting land usage in the Midwest. It looks at both sides of the issue and presents a possible resolutions.
7. Please In My Backyard
“„When [wind turbine contractors] come to
you and say that you will get thousands of
dollars every year for thirty years
guaranteed, you feel like you have won the
lottery.‟”
8. Midwestern Land
“States like North Dakota, for
example, have great wind availability. The
problem is there is no one to benefit from
the energy.”
9. Not In My Backyard
“...a majority of those opposed to a local wind
farm agree with the need for wind energy, but
disagree for a number of reasons (increased
noise, increased bird death, and aesthetic
blight) they do not want the turbines located in
their immediate area.”
13. Both sides agree on the energy benefits
PIMBY wants the addition to agricultural
NIMBY wants to preserve the land
14. Wind Farms
“…a perfect storm for a conflict between
a desire to move toward clean energy
and a desire to protect some of the few
remaining wild places."
The issue I have done extensive research on is wind farms affect on Midwestern land. Wind farms are a growing farm technology aiming to bring renewable energy to local farms. There is a growing issue in the Midwest due to the land the wind farms are being built on.
Many of you may not be familiar with wind turbiens, other than what you have seen on I-57, so let me break this down for you. Wind turbines can reach up to 344 feet in height. To put that into perspective, the Statue of Liberty is 304 feet tall. Some wind turbines can exceed the height of the Statue of Liberty by 40 feet. Understanding the size of the turbines will help understand the issue at hand a little better.If time add in sears tower
Wind turbines have been placed on farms since the turn of the century. They are being used as a source of renewable energy for farms varying in size. So what is the issue?
Wind turbines are creating jobs and revenue, so many local farmers are in favor of the wind farms. The benefits also are bringing the issue of land disturbance to the table. The wind turbines are commotion amongst local communities due to their large size and aesthetic blight.Source: Union of Concerned Scientists. (2010). Farming the wind: wind power and agriculture.Energy impact . Retrieved from http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/impacts/farming-the-wind-wind-power.html
Which leads us to the stakeholders in this issue
Pimby- supporters of wind farms. Please in my backyardNimby-against. Not in my backyard
These people are reaping the benefits of the turbines. They are the farmers, local residents, or companies that are gaining wealth, enhancement of agriculture, or advertisement of their product. Sowers, J. (2006) Field of opportunity wind machines return to the plains. Great Plains Quarterly , 100-111. Volume and issue?
Kevin Borgia, executive director at the Illinois Wind Energy Association, describes the Midwest as the best place for wind farms due to the cost effectiveness and wind availability. The farms go to where the wind is and the Midwest has great wind and a population that supports the energy. The farms are being placed on land to support the community, not hinder the land.
The residents that are against wind farms value the cost of the land as a natural entity more than cost of the energy benefits. Sowers, J. (2006) Field of opportunity wind machines return to the plains. Great PlainsQuarterly , 100-111. Volume and issue?
Mainly these issues are arising from the change they are bringing to the local environment. According to the U.S. Wildlife Service, the increase in the tall wind turbines creates a disturbance in the birds flight pattern which leads to collisions and ultimately death of the birds. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (2002). Migratory bird mortality. Retrieved fromhttp://www.fws.gov/birds/mortality-fact-sheet.pdf
This company works to add the energy benefits of the wind turbines to farms on a smaller scale. It allows for the land to not be disturbed, and the farm to still reap renewable energy. BergeyWindpower. (2011). Bergey product. Retrieved from http://www.bergey.com/pages/products__prices
Both NIMBY and PIMBY can agree on one thing; energy benefits. However, the land is the main issue when it comes to these two sides.
Pete Didisheim (2006)-meaing that there is a on-going fight Crowell, A. (2006 August, 11). Wind Power Fans Controversy. Blethen MaineNewspapers, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2006/08/wind-power-fans-controversy-45691
Wind companies are working to end the conflict by working with environmental experts to get a better feel for where they should place these turbines. TheNational Wind Coordinating Collaborative has a wildlife workgroup that aims to bring together the environmental concerns and energy benefits. Until a compromise is created, this issue will continue to exsist. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. (July 2011) Wind Research Home. Retrieved from http://www.nrel.gov/wind/