Highland Wind Project FAQ

What makes a good wind site? Do I have a good wind site?
Sustained wind speeds are critical to a project's economic viability. Wind turbines require a minimum annual average wind speed above 15 mph, or 6.7 meters per second. The proximity of turbines to electric transmission lines is another important factor in evaluating the economic viability of a project. Due to the high costs associated with building transmission lines, most wind projects are located within three miles of high-voltage transmission lines. Also, land features (hills and ravines), vegetation, and nearby structures can affect how valuable a site is for wind energy development. In the Northeast, high hilltops, relatively free of trees and buildings, are favorable for a wind energy project. Factors such as the accessibility of the land for construction, soil type, and terrain impact construction as well as maintenance needs and costs. Environmental impacts related to view-sheds, noise, birds, wetlands, and historical preservation are crucial to the viability of a project and its community acceptance.

How much land is required?
The amount of land required for a large wind project varies depending on the terrain and the final layout of the turbines. A rough rule of thumb is 30 to 50 acres of land per turbine to provide adequate exposure to the wind, proper setbacks from homes and roadways, and appropriate spacing between turbines. In ridge top areas the land usage could be considerably less. Actual land used by the turbine is quite small. The concrete foundation pad on which the turbine sits is approximately 30 feet in diameter. A small amount of additional land is needed for access roads and other equipment. No more than a couple acres per turbine are actually removed from productive use.

What is the visual impact on the landscape?
Visual impacts can be minimized through careful layout of the turbines. Using turbines of the same size and type and spacing them uniformly generally results in a wind farm that satisfies most aesthetic concerns. Computer simulation is helpful in evaluating visual impacts before construction begins.

Can I hear the turbines?
Noise issues were associated with some early projects, however, noise has been reduced through advances is system designs and appropriate use of setbacks from residences. Aerodynamic noise has been reduced by adjusting the thickness of the blades' trailing edges and by orienting blades upwind of the turbine tower. To put this into perspective, a wind turbine 250 meters from a residence is no noisier than a kitchen refrigerator.

What are the economic benefits?
Payments to landowners are commonly structured in a land lease, but developers may purchase the land or seek wind easements. In a land lease, the developer obtains exclusive access to the land for wind energy-related requirements, for a period of 20 years. In return, land-owners are paid through annual royalty payments based on the amount of energy produced by the turbines installed on the land, and can continue to use most of the land for routine activities such as farming. Annual payments depend on a variety of factors and can be discussed during the project assessment stage.

What are the other benefits of wind energy?
Wind energy is inexhaustible and non-polluting. It is also compatible with mixed land use such as grazing, agriculture, or forestry. Wind energy projects are modular and the development and construction process is relatively fast when compared to bringing a new coal or nuclear plant on line. Wind output prices are not susceptible to price fluctuations like petroleum based fuels.

Additional rural benefits include:

• Economic diversification - Wind energy provides farming communities with a new source of long-term revenue without a significant impact to existing agricultural operations. New jobs for wind turbine construction, operation, and maintenance are created, some materials and supplies can be purchased locally, and landowners will benefit from payments from developers.
• Increased tax base - Wind projects make payments to local taxing authorities (school districts, town, county, or state governments) that broaden the local tax base and provide new local revenue, with the potential to reduce tax burdens on local residents.