Alleviating Misconceptions About Energy: Wildlife Impacts, Bird Mortality, Human Health, and Shadow Flicker

These slides address common misconceptions about energy, focusing on wildlife impacts, bird mortality from wind turbines, human health effects, and shadow flicker concerns. They highlight strategies to reduce wildlife impacts, comparisons of bird mortality with other structures, lack of evidence for human health impacts, and methods to mitigate shadow flicker effects. The content emphasizes the importance of research, education, and advancements in wind energy technology to address these issues effectively.

• Energy
• Wildlife Impacts
• Bird Mortality
• Human Health
• Shadow Flicker

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1. The following slides help to alleviate common misconceptions about energy. Photo from Invenergy LLC, NREL 14371

2. Wildlife impacts vary by location,* and new developments have helped to reduce these effects. Pre- and post-development studies, educated siting, and curtailment during high-activity periods have decreased wildlife impacts.** Additional strategies are being researched to better understand and further decrease impacts. Photo from LuRay Parker, NREL 17429 *Erickson, W.P.; Wolfe, M.M.; Bay, K.J.; Johnson, D.H.; Gehring, J.L. (September 15, 2014). A Comprehensive Analysis of Small-Passerine Fatalities from Collision with Turbines at Wind Energy Facilities. **American Wind Wildlife Institute. (2014). Wind Turbine Interactions with Wildlife and Their Habitats: a Summary of Research Results and Priority Questions.

3. Bird mortality from wind turbine collisions pales in comparison to other engineered structures.* The wind energy industry aggressively works to minimize avian impacts from wind turbines; however, it is important to evaluate wind turbines compared to other standing structures that exist throughout a habitat or ecosystem. *Loss, S.R.; Will, T.; Marra, P.P. (December 2013). Estimates of Bird Collision Mortality at Wind Facilities in the Contiguous United States. *Longcore et al. (2013). Avian Mortaility at Communication Towers in the United States and Canada: Which Species, How Many, and Where? *Erickson, W.P.; Wolfe, M.M.; Bay, K.J.; Johnson, D.H.; Gehring, J.L. (September 15, 2014). A Comprehensive Analysis of Small-Passerine Fatalities from Collision with Turbines at Wind Energy Facilities.

4. There is no statistically significant evidence of human health impacts from wind turbines.* Some individuals living in close proximity to wind energy developments have expressed annoyance attributed to turbine sound or other impacts. Manufacturers are working to reduce mechanical and aerodynamic noise to help alleviate these concerns.** * Minnesota Department of Health Environmental Health Division. (2009). Public Health Impacts of Wind Turbines. *Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care; Chief Medical Officer of Health Report. (May 20, 2010). The Potential Health Impacts of Wind Turbines. *National Health and Medical Research Council. Canberra, Australia. (July 2010). Wind Turbines and Health: A Rapid Review of the Evidence. *Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. (2012). Wind Turbine Health Impact Study: Report of Independent Expert Panel. **U.S. Department of Energy. (2015). Wind Vision: A New Era for Wind Power in the United States. Photo from Forbes Park LLC, NREL 16116

5. Shadow flicker impacts vary depending on location-specific variables, but effects are typically analyzed and can be minimized.* Shadow flicker occurs when wind turbine blades cast shadows that move across the ground and nearby structures. Shadow flicker occurs more often at higher elevations, early morning and evenings, and can vary due to surrounding structures and vegetation. Wind plant designers and turbine operators have the ability to minimize potential impacts, and most wind zoning places limits on flicker impacts.** *Stanton, T. National Regulatory Research Institute. (January 2012). Wind Energy & Wind-Park Siting and Zoning Best Practices and Guidance for States. **U.S. Department of Energy. (2015). Wind Vision: A New Era for Wind Power in the United States. Photo from Iberdrola Renewables, NREL 15246

6. Radar impacts exist, but federal agency siting requirements address concerns. A variety of mitigation strategies have been developed to reduce impacts on radar. These include infill radars to restore a loss in radar coverage, replacement radars, and upgrading identified radar technology.* In addition, rigorous review processes and federal consultations address this issue.** Photo from NOAA *Karlson et al. Sandia National Laboratory. (September 2014). IFT&E Industry Report Wind Turbine- Radar Interference Test Summary. ** Federal Aviation Administration. DoD Preliminary Screening Tool.

7. Although uncommon, communication signal impacts are easily mitigated. Modern wind turbines have limited impacts on communications. Most problems are resolved during the turbine siting process. Communication impacts can be resolved by replacing an antenna with a larger, more powerful one; adding a reception booster to the antenna; or by switching to cable or a satellite service.* *U.S. Department of Energy. (2015). Wind Vision: A New Era for Wind Power in the United States. Photo from Southwest Windpower, NREL 09157

8. Research shows no evidence of post- construction decreases in property values.* Multiple peer-reviewed studies have been conducted to determine the actual impact of wind energy development on property values. Statistical evidence shows that views of and proximity to wind turbines do not have adverse post-construction effects on property values. *Hoen, B.; Wiser, R.H.; Cappers, P.; Thayer, M.; Sethi, G. (2009). Journal of Real Estate Research. The Impact of Wind Power Projects on Residential Property Values in the United States: A Multi-Site Hedonic Analysis. Hoen, B.; Wiser, R.H.; Cappers, P.; Thayer, M. (2013). Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. An Analysis of the Effects of Residential Photovoltaic Energy Systems on Home Sales Prices in California. Hoen, B.; Brown, J.P.; Jackson, T.; Wiser, R.H.; Thayer, M.; Cappers, P. (August 2013). Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. A Spatial Hedonic Analysis of the Effects of Wind Energy Facilities on Surrounding Property Values in the United States. Atkinson-Palombo, C.; Hoen, B. (2014). Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Relationship between Wind Turbines and Residential Property Values in Massachusetts. Photo from Iberdrola Renewables, NREL 15247

9. Visual impacts on local landscapes can be understood prior to construction. Visual impact assessments can provide a better understanding of what turbines may look like on different landscapes prior to construction.* The use of qualitative* and quantitative** assessments of visual impacts can help communities make decisions on the appropriate deployment of wind turbines. Photo from Alstom, NREL 18207 *Vissering, J.; Sinclair, M.; Margolis, A. (May 2011). Clean Energy States Alliance. A Visual Impact Assessment Process for Wind Energy Projects. **Palmer, J.F. (2015). Effect Size as a Basis for Evaluating the Acceptability of Scenic Impacts: Ten Wind Energy Projects from Maine, USA. Landscape and Urban Planning, 140: 56-66.