--Visual Impact of Wind Turbines
Tom Gray
/* Written 5:55 am Mar 22, 1993 by tg...@igc.apc.org in igc:en.energy */
GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER PONDERS
SCENIC EFFECT OF WIND ENERGY
Vermont utility Green Mountain Power Co. (GMP) has proposed to
build three windfarms in southern Vermont and northwestern
Massachusetts in response to a request for proposals for "green
power" from New England Power Co. (see Wind Energy Weekly #477,
December 16, 1991, p. 5). In a recent publication, GMP discusses
a number of aspects of the projects in a question-and-answer
format. This is the final article in a series containing excerpts
from that publication.
Q: Where will the facilities be visible from public highways?
A: The Searsburg/Readsboro site areas will be visible along a
stretch of [Vermont] Route 9 in the vicinity of Red Mill Pond;
a stretch of Route 8 as it climbs over the mountain heading
toward Heartwellville; and from along Route 100/8 in the
vicinity of Heartwellville. We are proposing [that] a public
"viewing area pull-off" be constructed along Route 8 to the
north of, and away from, the Fairington Cemetery. This is the
closest point from which the public will be able to view the
facility.
Portions of the Stamford/Readsboro and Florida site areas
would be in view from points along Route 100/8 as it courses
through Stamford and Clarksburg, MA. Views from town roads in
Readsboro are very rare and are from up in the highlands in
the western end of the town near the Massachusetts border.
These project areas would be visible from various locations
along town roads in Clarksburg and Stamford that have open
views to the east.
Q: It would be helpful to see an artist's rendition of what these
projects would look like.
A: We are aware of the need to show people what wind facilities
at these locations may look like, and are in the process of
preparing sketches . . . In addition, because of the apparent
significance of motion to the visual perception of wind
facilities, we are exploring the feasibility of animating
certain renditions using video technology.
Q: How do we come to grips with the visual impact of wind power
facilities?
A: As you might imagine, GMP has wrestled with this question many
times over the last 14 years. It is always a lively point of
discussion as well as an extremely important question. We
know of no easy answer, but can offer some insights based on
our experience and discussions with the local communities that
would be affected by our current proposals.
The visual perception of operation wind facilities is a many-
faceted issue that usually involves significant social
perceptions as well as "technical" visibility issues. The
extend to which a wind facility is perceived to have a
negative aesthetic effect is difficult to ascertain at one
point in time for any social group. This depends on the
number of people who live near the facility and their
perceptions of wind energy. These perceptions will likely be
formed on the basis of the perceived need for renewable
sources of energy and the availability of acceptable
alternative sources to satisfy this need. These perceptions
change through time and among social groups, making
quantification of visual aspects difficult.
In searching for acceptable wind turbine sites, the visual
aspects of the facilities have always been a very important
criterion in the site selection process. We are aware of no
sites where wind facilities would be completely out of view
from the surrounding communities. They must be sited at
topographically important locations to intercept the wind flow
from all directions. The sites for which we are submitting
permit applications have relatively low potential for visual
impact, but nonetheless there will be a visual impact no
matter what sites we choose.
People have offered suggestions for reducing the visual
impact, such as painting [the turbines] neutral colors and
using lattice type towers instead of solid columnar towers.
All of these ideas sound feasible at this point and we will
consider them seriously through the design and permitting
process. To a certain extent, we are flexible in moving
turbine locations to reduce impacts as studies conducted as
part of the environmental assessment processes indicate is
prudent.
Some of the local people we have discussed this with have
suggested that the visual effects may not necessarily be
negative, as the sight of operating wind turbines ("operating"
is a key word) would be a visually interesting feature of the
landscape -- providing a sense of responsibility for the use
of local renewable energy sources (this point of view is
consistent with our Equinox experience). Others have not been
so sure, but are aware of the tradeoffs with other electric
generating sources.
With careful siting, we believe wind turbine facilities can be
an environmentally responsible source of renewable energy.
Over time, such facilities could become an accepted feature of
the rural landscape in much the same way as the visual impact
of other human activities such as farms, roads, homes, and
schools. This, of course, is nothing new. It has occurred
throughout history in all parts of the world where there was
a need for mechanical energy and an adequate wind energy
resource and technology available to provide it.
GMP's position has always been that the people who have to
live near the facilities should have a decisive voice in how
much, if any, of their wind resource will be developed. We do
not want to push wind development on any community. Indeed,
we believe that in order for wind to realize its potential as
a "good", environmentally clean energy resource, the people
have to want it. We do expect to hold to this philosophy with
our ears wide open. Please let us hear from you.
===============================
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which the above article is excerpted, at no cost.
For those of you who have not previously seen excerpts from back issues
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Tom Gray EcoNet/PeaceNet: tgray@igc
Internet/Bitnet: tg...@igc.apc.org UUCP: uunet!cdp!tgray