Heidi Sevor and Esther Bruening present…

Wind Energy!  Green Power  Renewable  Sustainable  Affordable

Wind Energy, The Basics  The terms wind energy or wind power describe the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity.  Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. –Mechanical power can be used for specific tasks (such as grinding grain or pumping water) or a generator can convert this mechanical power into electricity.

Wind Energy from  A group of wind turbines can make electricity for the utility grid.  The electricity is sent through transmission and distribution lines to homes, businesses, schools, and so on.

Land for Wind Energy  Turbines require open space to harness the power of the wind  Land surrounding turbines can be used for farming and ranching  In this area there is plenty of open land!!

Wind Measurements from  Brockport: – mph ( m/s) –Conducive for wind turbines  Offshore: – mph (7.5-9 m/s) From: /Wind-turbine.jpg

Turbine Sizes from  Utility size turbines –100 kilowatts to several megawatts –Wind Farms  Provide bulk power to electrical grids  Average price installed for $1,000/kW

Turbine Sizes Continued from  Single small turbines –Average price for typical 10kW home system $25,000-$35,000 –Below 100 kilowatts –Used for homes, telecommunication dishes, or water pumping  Can stand alone or grid-connected

Efficiency  Efficiency varies by machine  ~ 40% of wind collected will be turned into electricity

Community Benefits  Small turbines can be hooked into the grid to supply power to community as well  Currently, there are approx. 198 community wind projects in the United States

Local Project Benefits from  Harbec Plastics, Ontario NY –Installed 250kW wind turbine and 25 microturbines –Saved/avoided $165,000 per year in energy costs –90% reduction in emissions of CO2 per year –Improved employee working conditions  Air conditioning  Payback period: 8-10 years

This is Cool! from  Tests have been done with turbines on buildings  Could be used on college buildings  Why not other tall structures?

Measuring Wind Power Locally  In Hamlin, there is a met tower, a device used to measure wind speed and direction, presumably because there are prospects of wind turbine installation.

Public Opinion  Hamlin, NY: NO WIND TURBINES vs. Clean & Green

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." - Albert Einstein, 1918 (from

From

Reasons for Opposition (Environment and Wildlife) from savewesternny.com  Wildfires (short circuits, downed electrical cables, welding splatter, etc.)  Foundations for turbines can disrupt water flow to shallow wells  On construction sites, many liquids that can cause contamination (gasoline, hydraulic oil) are used and can spill and contaminate wells  Disruption of avian migration routes  Provide shelter for rodents that raptors consume  Bat deaths (documented worldwide)

Reasons for Opposition (Health, Safety, and Noise) from savewesternny.com  Potential to cause vibroacoustic disease (results from chronic exposure to high- intensity/low-frequency noise and infrasound)  Flicker induced health risks  Electrocution and injury from loose machinery  Ice throw  Radar interference

Coal mining is one of the most dangerous jobs on earth, with 6,027 deaths in 2004 in China (28 in the U.S. during the same year) Can result in chronic lung diseases Interference with groundwater and water table levels Renders land unfit for common usage It is thought that coal mining is harmful to the quality of the surrounding air Comparatively… From wikipedia.org (photo from

Earth Day Survey  April 25 th, 2007: A wind energy survey was conducted to see what people’s general opinions and knowledge of wind and renewable energy was. Eighteen people responded Table 1: Earth Day wind energy survey

What People Thought  Only one person surveyed opposed the installation of wind turbines in their area  50% of people were aware of the pros and cons of wind turbines  All respondents were aware of global warming issues, believed that there should be more government funding for wind energy, were in support of researching and utilizing alternative energy sources, and would like to see more wind energy used in the United States.

Economic and Social Advantages from  Revitalizes rural economies  Fewer subsidies  Free fuel  Price stability  Promotes cost- effective energy production  Creates jobs  National security/energy independence  Supports agriculture  Local ownership

Environmental Advantages from  Clean water  Clean air  Mining & transportation  Land preservation

Other Disadvantages from  A variable resource: the wind is not always as strong as needed  Aesthetics: some people dislike the look of the turbines

Are the Risks Worth the Benefits?  People generally seem to support the use of wind turbines once they view and understand the facts.  Many people in the community who oppose them have the “not in my backyard” mentality.  The installation of wind turbines is one step towards becoming more eco-friendly in the future.

Other Works Cited  atabaseApril pdf atabaseApril pdf atabaseApril pdf  enrgy.html enrgy.html enrgy.html  StudyID=1 StudyID=1 StudyID=1