Document Actions
Elements of a CUP - 2
Elements of a Conditional Use Permit, cont.
Neighborhood Impacts
This may be the most difficult and potentially contentious issue to
address in project siting. Though many people find wind turbines to be
attractive, especially when they understand the environmental and
economic benefits of wind power, others may dislike the appearance of
the turbines or simply prefer not to have such projects in their
viewshed. The aesthetic preferences of community members are personal,
but can be influenced by information or opinions on the perceived
positive or negative impacts of a proposed project. Just as it is a
good idea to publicize the expected benefits of siting a wind project
in the community, it is also helpful to inform members of the local
community about what efforts you are taking to make sure that
construction and operation of the wind project will not have negative
impacts on their quality of life.
Wind power has been a part
of rural living for centuries. Long before rural electrification
projects brought power lines to small towns throughout the country,
farmers and ranchers used windmills to pump water and create
electricity for their homes and farms. Today community support for
local wind projects is usually very high once the projects are
installed. To help promote the wind project in the community, include
statements of support from community members.
Noise
One issue that may be raised by project neighbors is noise. Some
noise, especially during the construction of the project, is
unavoidable. With careful design and mitigation, however, the amount of
noise can be minimized to avoid disturbing neighbors.
How Noisy are Wind Turbines?
The
American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) explains: “Noise was an issue
with some early wind turbine designs, but it has been largely
eliminated as a problem through improved engineering and through
appropriate use of setbacks from nearby residences. Aerodynamic noise
has been reduced by adjusting the thickness of the blades’ trailing
edges and by orienting blades upwind of the turbine tower. A small
amount of noise is generated by the mechanical components of the
turbine. To put this into perspective, a wind turbine 250 meters from a
residence is no noisier than a kitchen refrigerator.” Click here to see a graphic representing the different noise levels of common sounds.
Local
permitting authorities may require that you develop and follow a noise
minimization plan during project construction. This plan should
designate work hours when construction activity will take place and
“quiet hours” when machinery will not be operated. Other ways to
minimize construction noise include: outfitting construction vehicles
and machinery with noise reduction equipment at least to the level of
industry standards (i.e. properly operating mufflers on vehicles);
setting vehicle alarms and back-up warnings to their lowest volume; and
turning off vehicles when not in use, rather than letting them idle.
Noise
created during the wind project’s operation can be minimized through
careful project design and equipment selection. Use new or fully
remanufactured equipment with well-documented noise testing conducted
by the manufacturer. Maintain all equipment according to the
manufacturer’s recommendations to avoid noise caused by equipment
malfunction. Set turbines back from residences and property lines to
ensure compliance with the state Department of Environmental Quality
noise regulations.
Property Lines and Setbacks
Turbines should be set back from residences and property lines to
insulate participating and neighboring landowners from noise and safety
concerns. State siting standards for wind facilities do not set
specific guidelines for setbacks; instead, each local permitting
authority may set its own regulations regarding setbacks from property
lines, roads, residences, etc.
Local regulations for setbacks
from residences vary from county to county. A required setback of 750
to 1,000 feet from the residences of landowners participating in the
project is typical. Neighboring landowners may ask for an even greater
setback to minimize the impact of a project from which they will not
directly benefit. When possible, turbines should be sited farther from,
rather than closer to, dwellings to avoid casting shadows over
residences and to minimize noise impacts. A good description and
calculator of shadow “flicker” from turbines can be found at the Danish Wind Industry Association Web site. Setbacks that prevent noise impacts are generally sufficient to prevent shadow flicker problems as well.
Aesthetics
The visual impact of wind turbines is a frequently-cited argument
against wind development, and perhaps the most difficult to counter.
Other concerns about project safety, efficiency, wildlife impact,
economic impact, etc. are usually put to rest by simply making
available the facts about modern wind energy technology and the
proposed project. On the other hand, some people simply do not like to
look at wind turbines, and commercial-scale wind turbines may be
visible from many miles away, creating a relatively wide area affected
by the project’s appearance.
There is no question that the
majority of people would prefer an unbroken view of
mountains/oceans/valleys to a view of a wind farm. However, when the
choice is between the use of locally-produced, locally-used,
environmentally-sound energy on the one hand and a view on the other,
the decision becomes more difficult. All sources of electricity come
with a price, be it pollution, greenhouse gases, or aesthetics. In the
case of community-owned wind turbines, that price is paid by the people
looking at the turbines rather than by people all over the world
subjected to large-scale environmental impacts. When communities make
the choice to rely on a local wind project for their energy, they are
choosing both to reduce the use of fossil fuels and to pay the
environmental price for their energy themselves. Local citizens can
feel good about the fact that they are taking responsibility for their
energy use by choosing a view with wind turbines.
Certain
project design decisions can greatly increase public acceptance of the
wind project’s appearance. Among the most fundamental is the decision
of where to site the project; for example, siting a project in or near
a scenic corridor or within sight of a recognized scenic vista may be
objectionable. Areas with significant existing or proposed residential
development, especially those areas where people choose to locate
because of their scenic beauty, may also be more resistant to the
alteration of the viewshed caused by wind turbines. In contrast, more
rural, agricultural areas may more readily accept the visual impact of
a wind project, recognizing that, like farm equipment or crops, wind
turbines change the appearance of the landscape but serve a useful
purpose. Other ways to ensure the most visually unobjectionable project
include:
- Design the project to blend with the existing surroundings by choosing a color for turbines, towers, and other project components that is neutral and non-reflective.
- When installing more than one turbine, choose identical or similar turbines to create a uniform-looking group of machines.
- When given the option, choose a small number of large turbines over a greater number of small ones. Many people find turbines with slower-moving blades more pleasing to view than those with faster-moving blades, describing them as “graceful,” “elegant,” and “relaxing.” Most modern utility-scale turbines are designed to operate at a constant speed of around 30 rpm. This slower rpm does not negatively impact these turbines’ ability to produce power.
- Design Operations and Maintenance (O&M) buildings or other new structures to be consistent with the character of the area. In one celebrated case, a wind developer refurbished a local barn to serve as the on-site O&M facility, preserving the historic building for the community and eliminating the need to build another new structure on the site.
- When possible, minimize the use of overhead electrical wires and guy wires. Using buried, rather than overhead, electrical lines minimizes visual impact.
- When lighting is advised or required on the project site, such as outdoor lighting near O&M or storage facilities, choose lighting that will be the least visually intrusive to neighbors. For example, hooded, downcast lights and motion detector lights that only turn on when needed will minimize unnecessary light pollution. Tower lighting should be limited to the minimum required by the Federal Aviation Administration and avian experts, to minimize the nighttime visual impact of the project.
- Maintain a clean-looking project site, with spare parts or equipment neatly stored.
Property Values
One common concern raised by project neighbors is the possibility
that wind development will cause a decline in area property values.
Recent nationwide and local studies show no evidence that wind farms
decrease the value of neighboring properties. For more information, see
the Renewable Energy Policy Project report, “The Effect of Wind Development on Local Property Values,” and the ECONorthwest report “Economic Impacts of Wind Power in Kittitas County.”
Communications Interference
According to AWEA, “Large wind turbines, such as those typically installed at wind farms, can interfere with radio or TV signals if a turbine is in the ‘line of sight’ between a receiver and the signal source, but this problem can usually be easily dealt with by improving the receiver’s antenna or installing relays to transmit the signal around the wind farm. Use of satellite or cable television is also an option.” When interference is an issue, the wind project developer is typically responsible for paying for any necessary mitigation. If concerns about interference are raised, whether before or after project construction, planning officials may ask for a commitment to make the necessary improvements to ensure communications signals maintain pre-project quality.
