lynn ditullio presentation at ssc energy workshop 4-8-2010

8/9/2019 Lynn Ditullio presentation at SSC Energy Workshop 4-8-2010

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University of Massachusetts

Wind Energy Center

Wind Turbine Siting Issues

Presented at the:

MAPC South Shore Coalition

Renewable Energy Workshop

April 8, 2010

Lynn B. Di Tullio


Wind Energy Center


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Wind Energy Center

Permitting Wind - Siting Issues

Visual:

Aesthetic impact

Shadow flicker

Sound

Ice Shed

Avian


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Wind Energy Center

Permitting Wind - Siting ImpactsVisual:

Aesthetic -provide photo visualizations from key points

Flicker - have flicker study done, allow for mitigation if

necessary

Sound - have sound study done from key vantage points (bettermodels, instruments, and standards are evolving)

Ice Shed - usually not an issue, but

Avian - desktop and onsite review usually required


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Wind Energy Center

Sources of Technical Assistance:Sources of Technical Assistance: Model bylaw for small and large wind energy:Model bylaw for small and large wind energy:

http://www.mass.gov/Eoeea/docs/doer/gca/gc-model-wind-bylaw-mar-10-

2009.pdf

Steven Clarke,Steven Clarke, Director of Wind Energy Development,Director of Wind Energy Development,DOER, 617-626-1049DOER, 617-626-1049

University of Massachusetts Wind Energy Center (fundedUniversity of Massachusetts Wind Energy Center (funded

through MRET-CEC)through MRET-CEC)

Advice on standards, latestAdvice on standards, latest studies:studies: setback, flicker,setback, flicker,icing, noiseicing, noise

NEWEEP (New England Wind Energy Education Project)NEWEEP (New England Wind Energy Education Project)

upcomingupcoming webinarswebinars and conferenceand conference

Consultants (funded by CEC if town project)Consultants (funded by CEC if town project)


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Wind Energy Center

Other Resources:Other Resources:

Siting standards by other states:Siting standards by other states:www.nationalwind.org/assets/publications/Siting_Factsheets.pdf

Acoustic Ecology Institute Special Report:Acoustic Ecology Institute Special Report:WindWind

Energy Noise ImpactsEnergy Noise Impactswww.acousticecology.org/srwind.html

National Wind Coordinating Collaborative ReportsNational Wind Coordinating Collaborative Reportswww.nationalwind.org


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Wind Energy Center

Statewide standards coming:Statewide standards coming:

If Siting Reform bill passes, Energy FacilitiesIf Siting Reform bill passes, Energy Facilities

Siting Board to develop statewide wind sitingSiting Board to develop statewide wind siting

standards within 6 months, taking into accountstandards within 6 months, taking into account

noise impacts on residents, safety setbacks,noise impacts on residents, safety setbacks,

environmentally sensitive areas, rare speciesenvironmentally sensitive areas, rare species

Provides a statewide, coherent approachProvides a statewide, coherent approach

Regional planning commissions can developRegional planning commissions can develop

their own standardstheir own standards


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Wind Energy Center

Problems that Wind Energy Siting ReformProblems that Wind Energy Siting Reformis intended to address:is intended to address:

Developers want clear and predictable siting

standards MA requires too many permits issued by too

many entities with many opportunities for appeal

MA has one-stop permitting, but only >100 MW.

= discrimination against renewable facilities Other states have much lower thresholds, e.g., VT

(0); CT (1), NH (5) Maine (20 Acres)


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Wind Energy Center

Wind Energy Siting Reform:Wind Energy Siting Reform:

Clear standards - as protective as, but not

necessarily identical to, existing law

Applies to wind projects 2 MW or larger One-stop permitting at local and state level

Appeal to court, if municipality rejects project

(as currently) Appeal to state EFS board, if others object to

municipalitys approval (and then, only one

appeal of EFSB decision - to highest court)


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Wind Energy Center

Wind Energy Siting Reform:Wind Energy Siting Reform:

High wind communities create wind energy

permitting boards,: members of planning

board, con-comm, and ZBA

One-stop board applies all local bylaws, and

can waive provisions

Muni and Fish & Game reps on EFS board

Provides some financial benefits to towns


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Wind Energy Center

Predicted Results ofPredicted Results ofSiting Reform:Siting Reform:

Wind facilities sited in appropriate

locations with appropriate safeguards

and mitigation

Permitting timeline reduced from 5+

years to between 1-1.5 years

Appeals reduced from 5+ years to 1year


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Wind Energy Center

Permitting Wind - Regional Experiences


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Wind Energy Center

Permitting Wind Turbines- Medford 100 kW turbine on 40m tower, 200 feet from McGlynn School

Operating since Jan. 09: 10% of electricity - $25,000/year

City of Medford and Medford Clean Energy Committee

Key: Understand public outreach-everyone has to play a role -major effort, starting with big meeting for public within 500 ofproperty edge

Planning Office and the Mayor took the lead; project fit

No wind bylaw - went through ZBA

Funding: the easy way! A $250,000 grant from the Large Onsite Renewables Initiative of the

Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust (MRET)

A $200,000 appropriation made through the 2008 MA Energy Bill A $100,000 grant from the Mass Energy Consumers Alliance

Ongoing matching grant funds through the MRET Clean Energy Choice(aka GreenUp) program.


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Wind Energy Center

Permitting Wind Turbines- Fox Island, Maine 4.5 MW project - three GE 1.5 MW turbines

Operating since Nov. 09 - meeting expectations

Community-owned - Fox Islands Electrical Cooperative servesVinalhaven & North Haven ($0.28/kWh over CMP cable)

Expected to meet total electric power load; cut bills day 1 Original ordinance designed to be restrictive for outside

developers; made it hard for this project so was changed (!)

1,500 feet to nearest residence; some neighbors bothered bynoise

Sound data being gathered- seems to be in compliance with45 dBA limit

Issue and potential mitigation will be submitted for Coop todecide


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Wind Energy Center

Permitting Wind Turbines- Freedom, Maine 4.5 MW project - three GE 1.5 MW turbines

Operating since Nov. 08 - happy with production

Privately owned (Jay Cashman/Competitive Energy Services)

Permitting took years

When applied, town asked for time to draft wind ordinance

After ordinance in place, developer applied Project approved, appealed, lost on appeal

Then town threw out ordinance (!)

Developer began again

Project permitted with no wind ordinance in place

1,000 feet to nearest residence; neighbors bothered by noise and

flicker (videos on YouTube) Now: state model ordinance, Went from relatively easy to way

too difficult-

Many town ordinances effectively ban wind- small projects cant be donegeographically/financially

Example: 1 mile setback, no flicker at intersections


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Wind Energy Center

Vertical Axis Wind Turbines Advantages

Generator at ground level

Braking options

Disadvantages

Less efficient--especiallythe Savonius (bucket) type

Complex vibration modes

More joints that fail Guyed towers

Lower installed height-lesswind near the ground


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Wind Energy Center

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines Advantages

More efficient (especially with pitchcontrol and variable speed

More economic due to less materialneeded per delivered unit of energy.

Simpler designs--fewer failuremodes.

Disadvantages Installation of rotor-tough!

Climbing for repairs--tiring!

Turning into the wind--yaw drivesand gyroscopic forces

Gravitational loads lead to fatigue


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Wind Energy Center

What Works? Vertical vs. Horizontal

Horizontal is more economical--general result of intensecompetition of the 1980s.

Higher failure rates for vertical axis machines due togreater complexity

Roof-mounting vs. Tower mounting:

Tower is much more effective: results of the recent UKWarwick Wind Trials

Major problem: turbulence from roofs loweraerodynamic efficiency, vibration from turbines bothersoccupants, loads from the turbines stress buildingstructures.


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Wind Energy Center

The UK Warwick Wind Trials(www.warwickwindtrials.org.uk/2.html)

23 HAWT roof mounted wind turbines, Oct. 2007

Wind resource on most urban roof tops is very

small due to surrounding clutter High-rise buildings in exposed locations may have aviable wind resource

Energy production in this study was trivially small

High turbulence

Extremely low capacity factor: ~ 4%

The key issue with roof-mounted wind turbines is usually windresource, not technology!

There is no technology silver bullet for a low wind resource

lynn ditullio presentation at ssc energy workshop 4-8-2010

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