"' Negative perspective on wind power



Property values decrease Property values decrease in areas where the turbines are visible. The site for this proposed project would be on the highest mountains in Greenbrier county. The 133 wind turbines would tower at least 400 feet above the mountains making them visible from a great distance. Each one would be the equivalent of a 40 story building.
Adverse affect on Tourism
Tourism would be adversely affected. Tourists come to Greenbrier county for the scenic natural beauty not to view an industrial complex. Loss in tourism would mean a loss of jobs and business revenue.
Wind turbines kill bats!
As predators of insects bats serve an important role in nature. A much smaller wind facility in Tucker county, WV resulted in thousands of bats being killed. Researches fear if proposed facilities in the region are completed, unsustainable levels of bat mortalities could result. Wind companies have not sufficiently addressed this problem. Considering that bat populations are already in decline a moratorium should be called until this problem is addressed. read more here
Wind Energy is inefficient!
Studies by Denmark, one of the leaders in the world in producing wind power concluded that wind power has serious environmental effects, insufficient production, and high production costs. Wind energy has not turned out to be the clean alternative we had hoped it would be. read more here
Significant environmental degradation!
Noise pollution from the turbines is a concern frequently down played by the industry but remains a problem. more about turbine noise pollution here

Lights on top of the towers are required for airlines but destroy the dark skies that people in our rural area cherish.
Destruction of wildlife habitats negatively impacts hunting and other recreational activities
Stress on local infrastructure
Interference with Emergency Management radio transmissions
Increased demand on Volunteer Fire Departments due to risk of brush fires and lightning striking turbines
Damage to roads caused during construction phase. Imagine what it takes to transports 133 turbines (each 400 foot tall) over our small country roads to get to the top of our highest mountains.

Negative perspective on Hydro power

In the article "Environmental impact of hydropower" by Arne Morten Lundhaug Johnsen, from the website Renewablenergy.no, the author states,

"Damming of large areas reduces public access to certain areas, and thereby affects outdoor recreation opportunities. Damming areas with rich, bio diverse flora also risks a negative effect on the climate because of large amounts of carbon that are tied to trees and other plants are released when the water reservoirs are filled with water for the first time and these crops rot without the help of oxygen. This leads to the creation of methane. Damming can also affect wildlife nourishment areas and travel routes."

"Hydro power often entails changes to the natural variations in the water in a watercourse. River power plants without water storage reservoirs cause relatively small changes to the level and flow of water, and therefore have little effect on biodiversity."

"Changes to the water level throughout the year can lead to scouring of fine substances and nourishment and cause erosion in the regulation zone."

"In high-pressure power plants with regulation water reservoirs, the impact on biodiversity depends on the regulation height."

"The affect of regulation on fish and fishing is a complicated interaction between a number of physical and biological factors. The natural habitat of fish is formed by physical circumstances such as water level, water speed and hiding possibilities, and also access to food. Draining would be completely devastating to the fish."

"The amount of water will also affect the fish in different ways, depending on the age of the fish and the fish species. A number of regulated river systems are still very good fishing rivers."

In the article "U.S. Orders Assessment of Harm Caused by Dams" by
it states:

"Most of the dams were built in the early decades of the century and have been operating under licenses that in some cases were granted half a century ago, well before builders seriously considered the harm a dam could do to fish, other wildlife, river beds and stream banks."

"Utility executives said today that in most cases new construction and changes in the way the plants are managed were unlikely to be excessively expensive. The Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, which is seeking to relicense 30 of its 74 hydroelectric projects in New York, more than any other utility in the nation, said it planned to spend $100 million over the next eight years on improvements including new equipment to increase the amount of power generated by 8 percent."

"'We've already been working with canoeing groups, fishermen and cities where we operate hydroelectric power projects to prepare our application," said James M. Cosgrove, a spokesman for Niagara Mohawk Power in Syracuse. "We're trying to meet the concerns of the environmental people at the same time we're also meeting the demands of our customers.'"

"When they were built decades ago, virtually all the 237 dams that are coming up for review by the Government were seen as vibrant emblems of American industrial ingenuity and engineering prowess. Some were magnificent, like the Cushman Dam, built in 1924 by Tacoma City Light in Washington State. It snaked across the Skokomish River, a concrete drapery unfurled in a snow-peaked wilderness."

"More recently the reputation of the country's roughly 2,000 hydroelectric dams -- 1,400 are privately owned and 600 were built by the Federal Government -- has grown considerably more complex. Studies by the Department of Energy and other Federal agencies say hydroelectric power is cleaner, safer and less expensive than almost any other form of energy now available. About 10 percent of the country's electricity is generated by hydroelectric projects, the Energy Department says. Criticism From Ecologists"

"But aquatic scientists and ecologists say that flooding vast areas to establish reservoirs, block rivers and artificially manage the flow of water to gain peak amounts of power is destructive to wildlife, fish and habitat."

"The answer to these problems is not to destroy dams but to change how they are operated, said Matthew H. Huntington, director of the hydro power programs for American Rivers, the country's principal river conservation group."

"But Mr. Huntington said environmental groups and state environmental agencies did not believe that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission would go far enough in ordering changes that will make any difference."

The article "hydroelectric power's Dirty Little Secret Revealed" by Duncan Graham-Rowe, written 24 February 2005 posted on new scientist.com.

"Contrary to popular belief, hydroelectric power can seriously damage the climate. Proposed changes to the way countries' climate budgets are calculated aim to take greenhouse gas emissions from hydro power reservoirs into account, but some experts worry that they will not go far enough."

"The green image of hydro power as a benign alternative to fossil fuels is false, says Éric Duchemin, a consultant for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). "Everyone thinks hydro is very clean, but this is not the case," he says."

"Hydroelectric dams produce significant amounts of carbon dioxide and methane, and in some cases produce more of these greenhouse gases than power plants running on fossil fuels. Carbon emissions vary from dam to dam, says Philip Fearnside from Brazil's National Institute for Research in the Amazon in Manaus. "But we do know that there are enough emissions to worry about."

"In a study to be published in Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Fearnside estimates that in 1990 the greenhouse effect of emissions from the Curuá-Una dam in Pará, Brazil, was more than three-and-a-half times what would have been produced by generating the same amount of electricity from oil. This is because large amounts of carbon tied up in trees and other plants are released when the reservoir is initially flooded and the plants rot. Then after this first pulse of decay, plant matter settling on the reservoir's bottom decomposes without oxygen, resulting in a build-up of dissolved methane. This is released into the atmosphere when water passes through the dam's turbines."
"Seasonal changes in water depth mean there is a continuous supply of decaying material. In the dry season plants colonies the banks of the reservoir only to be engulfed when the water level rises. For shallow-shelving reservoirs these "draw down" regions can account for several thousand square kilometers."

"In effect man-made reservoirs convert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into methane. This is significant because methane's effect on global warming is 21 times stronger than carbon dioxide's."

"Despite a decade of research documenting the carbon emissions from man-made reservoirs, hydroelectric power still has an undeserved reputation for mitigating global warming. "I think it is important these emissions are counted," says Fearnside."

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from http://www.clean-energy-ideas.com/articles/advantages_and_disadvantages_of_wind_energy.html these are negative views on wind power.
The strength of the wind is not constant and it varies from zero to storm force. This means that wind turbines do not produce the same amount of electricity all the time. There will be times when they produce no electricity at all.
Many people feel that the countryside should be left untouched, without these large structures being built. The landscape should left in its natural form for everyone to enjoy.
Wind turbines are noisy. Each one can generate the same level of noise as a family car traveling at 70 mph.
Many people see large wind turbines as unsightly structures and not pleasant or interesting to look at. They disfigure the countryside and are generally ugly.
When wind turbines are being manufactured some pollution is produced. Therefore wind power does produce some pollution.
Large wind farms are needed to provide entire communities with enough electricity. For example, the largest single turbine available today can only provide enough electricity for 475 homes, when running at full capacity. How many would be needed for a town of 100 000 people? .The main disadvantage regarding wind power is down to the winds unreliability factor. In many areas, the winds strength is too low to support a wind turbine or wind farm, and this is where the use of solar power or geothermal power could be great alternatives.

. 29.Wind turbines generally produce allot less electricity than the average fossil fuelled power station, requiring multiple wind turbines to be built in order to make an impact.

31.Wind turbine construction can be very expensive and costly to surrounding wildlife during the build process.

33.The noise pollution from commercial wind turbines is sometimes similar to a small jet engine. This is fine if you live miles away, where you will hardly notice the noise, but what if you live within a few hundred meters of a turbine? This is a major disadvantage.

34.Protests and/or petitions usually confront any proposed wind farm development. People feel the countryside should be left in tact for everyone to enjoy it's beauty.



http://www.greenenergyhelpfiles.com/articles/20.htm


1.Nuclear power is a much argued about issue as there are pros and cons for using nuclear power. Nuclear power generates a large amount of energy, is very cost effective, and does not contribute to air pollution.

2. Nuclear power has many benefits for producing energy from nuclear reactors. Environmentally nuclear energy's impact is very little. The power generated from nuclear power, which is a green energy, does not contribute any emissions to the atmosphere while other types of fossil fuels generate greenhouse gasses and poisonous elements which can lead to ozone problems, acid rain, and global warming. Nuclear power is relatively inexpensive compared with other types of energy. Uranium, which is the raw fuel, is less expensive than oil, natural gas, or coal. Therefore because nuclear power in inexpensive it generates into lower electricity costs for consumers. Nuclear power is a reliable source of power as nuclear power plants produce large amounts of power on a consistent basis. Therefore there are viable reasons to using nuclear power. 3.

Nuclear power generation does emit relatively low amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2). The emissions of green house gases and therefore the contribution of nuclear power plants to global warming is therefore relatively little.

4.

This technology is readily available, it does not have to be developed first.

5.

It is possible to generate a high amount of electrical energy in one single plant.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/nuclear-power-pros-and-cons

6. Greenhouse gases from nuclear power are about 12 times less than gas power stations and about 30 times less than coal stations

7. Australia has a large percentage of the world's high grade uranium ore that could service a domestic market

8. Australia could reap billions of export dollars if uranium mining was expanded

http://www.virtualsciencefair.org/2003/chiuw3w/public_html/tech_pro.html

9. Nuclear power is one of the most advanced technologies. Nuclear techniques creates more accurate diagnoses and can cure many diseases. When it comes to generating electricity, nuclear reactors come into second in providing energy to the United States. Not only that, they are practically greenhouse gas emission free, and the waste they produce is about 3.5 million times smaller than the leading energy source for United States: coal. Some argue that the waste is highly radioactive, and thus highly dangerous, but actually high level waste can be diluted twice with neutral materials and than change into glass or ceramic form. In economic impacts, nuclear energy costs only 1.68 cents per kilowatt-hour, while for coal it costs 1.80 cents per kilowatt-hour, oil was 4.93 cents and gas was 6.08 cents.


10. Nuclear energy is the world largest source to emission-free energy. The power plants produce no sulphur, particulates or greenhouse gas. Data has shown that between 1973 and 2002, nuclear power has saved the pollution of 74.5 million tons of sulphur dioxide and 37.7 million tons of nitrogen oxides. Also in just 2002, power plants prevented 4.24 million tons of sulfur dioxide, 2.06 million tons of nitrogen oxide, and 179.4 million tons of carbon entering the Earth’s atmosphere. Nuclear reactors not only preserve the Earth’s air and climate due to global warming, but they also prevent acid rain. As reported nuclear energy does not produce any emissions, and if all electricity sources are provided from nuclear reactors, this will definitely be the solution to the global climate change, and possibly the meltdown of the polar icecaps.

11.Some though, may argue that highly radioactive nuclear waste, though small in quantity is extremely dangerous to human health and the ecosystem. This fact is true, and that is why United States has decided to transport most of its highly radioactive wastes to the Yucca Mountains, Nevada. Deep within these mountains salt deposits will turn the radioactive wastes into inert glass.

12.Low radioactivity level wastes contain little radioactivity. These include disposable protective clothing from power plants and medical facilities, contaminated lab equipment, plastics, metals and liquids from decommissioned power plants. Most of these wastes are solidified, placed into drums and buried at a commercial disposal site. Placed in trenches about 20 feet deep, these are filled with sand and clay each day to prevent moisture from entering. When full, they are capped with clay and than covered with a foot of soil where grass is than planted to prevent erosion. These pose no hazard, and the industry has had 30 years of experience, and there has never ever been a potential health hazard to anybody due to these low level wastes buried within the ground.

http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/micro-hydro-power-pros-and-cons/


13.Fish populations can be impacted if fish cannot migrate upstream past impoundment dams to spawning grounds or if they cannot migrate downstream to the ocean. Upstream fish passage can be aided using fish ladders or elevators, or by trapping and hauling the fish upstream by truck. Downstream fish passage is aided by diverting fish from turbine intakes using screens or racks or even underwater lights and sounds, and by maintaining a minimum spill flow past the turbine.

14.Hydropower can impact water quality and flow. Hydropower plants can cause low dissolved oxygen levels in the water, a problem that is harmful to riparian (riverbank) habitats and is addressed using various aeration techniques, which oxygenate the water. Maintaining minimum flows of water downstream of a hydropower installation is also critical for the survival of riparian habitats.

15.Hydropower plants can be impacted by drought. When water is not available, the hydropower plants can't produce electricity.
New hydropower facilities impact the local environment and may compete with other uses for the land. Those alternative uses may be more highly valued than electricity generation. Humans, flora, and fauna may lose their natural habitat. Local cultures and historical sites may be impinged upon. Some older hydropower facilities may have historic value, so renovations of these facilities must also be sensitive to such preservation concerns and to impacts on plant and animal life.


16.Suitable site characteristics required
In order to take full advantage of the electrical potential of small streams, a suitable site is needed. Factors to consider are: distance from the power source to the location where energy is required, stream size (including flow rate, output and drop), and a balance of system components — inverter, batteries, controller, transmission line and pipelines.

17.Energy expansion not possible
The size and flow of small streams may restrict future site expansion as the power demand increases.

18.Low-power in the summer months
In many locations stream size will fluctuate seasonally. During the summer months there will likely be less flow and therefore less power output. Advanced planning and research will be needed to ensure adequate energy requirements are met.

19.Environmental impact
The ecological impact of small-scale hydro is minimal; however the low-level environmental effects must be taken into consideration before construction begins. Stream water will be diverted away from a portion of the stream, and proper caution must be exercised to ensure there will be no damaging impact on the local ecology or civil infrastructure.


http://www.swarthmore.edu/NatSci/sciproject/windpowertalk.html
20.
Costs more to purchase. No separate budget for this.

21.Must trade off against other moral goods we could pursue.

http://www.nuclearpowerprocon.org/pop/wind.htm

22.
Most wind power locations produce relatively small power outputs.

23. Variations in power plant output due to the flux in duration and intensity of wind necessitates power storage facilities
24. Wind must move at speeds greater than seven m.p.h. to be usable in most cases. 25. The rotation of windmill blades can interfere with home TV reception and other electromagnetic signals 26. Capital costs for wind power production are high 27. Mechanical failures of wind turbines could be dangerous 28. Possible damage to the environment from wind power includes tree removal, hill alteration to promote winds, and hazards to birds