Public Attitudes Towards Proposed Wind Farms: A cross country comparison Dr. Sandy Bond Senior Lecturer Curtin University of Technology Charmaine Watts, Founder of Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff NZ (REFIT-NZ)

Format for this Session   The renewable energy story   Literature review   Research objectives   Methodology & data   Results & conclusion

Introduction   The government is supporting the development of renewable energy technology, such as wind power, in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gases in line with the Kyoto agreement   In NZ: 90% of electricity to be from renewable resources by 2025 Vs Australia: 20% by 2020 This has generated a surge of interest in renewable energy, particularly wind power   In Australia, in 2008 total operating capacity was 1125 MW on 42 wind farms NZ has 322 MW on 8 wind farms

Salmon Beach WF: 1 st in m tower, 8m blades Albany WF: m tower, 35m blades Towers frequently exceed 100m in height = visible for long distances

Introduction As wind development accelerates to meet renewable energy targets, easing siting and permitting barriers will be crucial Among the barriers are claims that wind farms cause:   Aesthetics issues   Reduced property values   Noise   Loss of bird (& bat) life   Inefficiency: “WFs are notoriously inefficient, rarely achieving even half their rated capacities, due to fluctuating winds”

Noise Measurement The issue of turbine noise commonly related to low frequency & infrasound noise that are poorly measured Most noise standards are weighted to the dB (A) scale that discriminates against low frequency sounds dB(A) scale is not an accurate indicator of the disturbing effects of such noise

Low Frequency Noise The problem is that wind turbines generate far more low frequency noise than high frequency noise Lower frequency noise is more efficiently transmitted & can be heard over greater distances than higher frequency noise Humans perceive low frequency noise as louder & more annoying than higher frequency noises with equal pressure levels

Nina Pierpont - An MD "Wind Turbine Syndrome," a cluster of stress-related physiological effects of turbine noise (1.5-3 MW) Symptoms: sleep disturbance, headache, tinnitus, dizziness, nausea, visual blurring, panic associated with sensations of internal pulsation. She recommends a 2km buffer between turbines & homes Wind Turbine Syndrome

Planning Policy   Developers intending to build a wind farm in NZ & AU must apply for planning/resource consent from the relevant council   In both countries, a proposal may be subject to an assessment of environmental effects, particularly where it would have a significant effect on the environment, & public submissions are usually required

Planning Policy: NZ   Interestingly, in NZ, the RMA has been amended as part of Parliament’s climate change measures to aid the planning process   This amendment, together with various climate-change policies, were significant in the judicial approval of the Awhitu wind farm   The Court determined that the wind farm would have significant adverse effect on the natural landscape of the coastal environment but that it was important to balance this with the national benefits

Planning Policy: NZ & UK   Similar to NZ & AU, wind power is crucial to the UK government’s attempts to meet an EU target of producing 20% of all energy from renewables by 2020   Yet according to Stratton (2009) plans to build some 4,000 onshore wind turbines are being opposed by more than 200 anti-wind farm groups   The NZ outcome is similar to what may occur in the UK with the passage of the Planning Act 2008, which will give government powers to intervene in unsuccessful attempts to achieve planning consent to build wind farms

Planning Guidelines: WA Town Planning: WA Planning Commission   Wind farm developments to include sufficient setbacks to avoid adverse noise impacts on the amenity of the community   As a guide, the distance to be 1km   Wind farm developments should be designed to ensure that noise generated will not exceed 5dB(A) above the background sound level

13 Literature Review Summary: Property Value Impacts Sales analysis results: There is ongoing controversy about the impact of wind farms on property values with no one study providing conclusive evidence of any impact Most tested for proximity impacts None of the studies, except Hoen (2006), visited homes Sample size is problematic in many of the studies Statistical analysis is sometimes not rigorous

Literature Review Summary: Public Surveys - NZ Two studies of public opinion to wind energy & the existing Tararua wind farm 60% of respondents expressed some level of support for building a wind farm in their local area The main reason cited for opposing such development was the perceived visual & auditory impact (Berg 2003)

Literature Review Summary: Public Surveys - NZ Phipps (2007) studied the visual & noise effects experienced by residents living within a 3km ring of wind farms A majority (84%) of the households reported they could see turbines from their home Of these, 80% considered the turbines intrusive Wind turbine noise disturbed the sleep of 42% of respondents

Literature Review Summary: Public Surveys - WA Results: Albany & Esperance, WA 2008 For 96.2% the proximity of the wind farm was not a concern Reasons: the wind farm is not close to residential areas so they cannot see or hear it; in favour of renewable energy

Literature Review Summary: Public Surveys - WA The majority of respondents are very supportive of the wind farm: Provision of renewable, clean energy Aesthetically pleasing (more than expected) Far enough away from homes Tourism & educational benefits However, some respondents think of the wind farm in negative terms: Too noisy Ruining coastal landscape Qs about accuracy of information provided re the capacity of the WF & how efficient it is

Literature Review Summary In summarising various public surveys, Boffa Miskell (2003) note: People in favour of renewable energy & wind power are more positive about turbines & wind farms in the area; The ‘NIMBY’ syndrome has the strongest effect in areas where there is no or very little knowledge about wind power; Public involvement and consultation has a positive effect on people’s attitudes and level of acceptance.

Research Objectives Aims: To determine if there is any substance to claims against wind farm developments by surveying community attitudes towards these The results can be used to: Inform local government and power companies to help increase the success rate of planning applications & thus meet renewable energy targets

Research Methodology   Method: A case study approach was used: An opinion survey was delivered to residents in windy towns in W.A. & NZ   Denmark, WA (n = 500, returned 46%)   Awhitu, NZ (n = 500, returned 45%) Q1: Visited a wind farm with more than 1 turbine: NZ: Only 24% had visited a WF AU: 88% had visited a WF

Case Study Areas Esperance Albany Denmark

Case Study Areas: Awhitu   The wind farm proposed location was on a privately owned farm, approx. 6km west of the township of Waiuku   The proposed 19 wind turbine structures had a max. overall height (including the rotor) of 90m from the base   The turbines have a nominal capacity of between kW each = total installed capacity between 15 to 25 MW.

Case Study: Awhitu Individuals opposing the wind farm made submissions on environmental effects: cultural, bird kill, erosion, shadow flicker, traffic, decommissioning, health, noise, etc One key element of the opposing submissions was the claim that a significant majority of the local population opposed the construction of the wind farm As a consequence of these opposing submissions, the application was declined in September 2004 (subsequently appealed)

Case Study Areas: Denmark Located 421 km (262 miles) south of Perth, the capital of WA Denmark’s population = approx. 5,000 The proposed farm will be the first of its kind in Australia: a community-scaled embedded generation project owned & operated by the Denmark community through an incorporated association The wind farm is to be located 10km south of the Denmark town-site 2 x 800 kW wind-turbine generators, supplying 60% of Denmark’s annual electricity needs

Case Study Areas: Denmark Environmental approval gained in 2005 However, in April 2009 the council voted 5- 7 against the excision of the 53ha of A- class reserve land on Wilson Head “in order to preserve the amenity and landscape values” While the council & community supported a wind farm, debate focused on the lack of public support for the Wilson Head site The South Coast Landscape Guardians have been particularly vocal on the issue, claiming that siting the wind turbines at Wilson Head blights pristine land

Results: Feelings about Proposal Reasons: Benefits in producing “clean”, sustainable, renewable energy; provides a tourist attraction AU: Concerns about damage to the coastal vegetation & coastline; cause “visual pollution”.

Results: NZ Q - visual The figures in brackets show responses from those who had visited a wind farm Vs those who had not Thus, those who had visited a WF were more in favour than those who had no experience with WFs

Results: NZ Q - Noise A report asserted that the anticipated noise from the proposed Awhitu wind farm would be negligible However, nearly a quarter of respondents considered noise pollution to be a problem Results: AU Q – Noise/View While specific Q’s relating to visibility & noise were not included, Q’s were asked relating to proximity to the proposed wind farm (a proxy for how easily a wind farm might be seen & heard) For the majority of them (80%) the proximity of the proposed wind farm was not a concern to them – as it is not close to where they live (2-5km away) & they would not see it

Results: AU - Price affects

Results: Price effects

Results: Advantages Low energy source: AU: Disappointed did not cost less (i.e. sold as efficient energy) Employment: AU: Usually during construction only; maybe more jobs with more tourism (AU)

Results: Concerns It appears that the AU respondents were far more concerned about the potential harmful impact on wildlife than NZ respondents (in NZ 33% said yes or unsure; in AU 47% were worried somewhat to a lot)

Summary Results: Awhitu, NZ & Denmark, WA Over two-thirds of residents (70% NZ, 74% AU) supported a wind farm being built Only 13% NZ (but 21%AU) were against Perceived main advantages: renewable resource (83%NZ, 94% AU), environmental friendliness (76%NZ, 87%AU) Perceived main disadvantages: Visual unsightliness (24%NZ, 33%AU) Noise pollution (21%NZ, 31%AU)

Results: AU – Favour WF based on Distance The reasons given for the responses include: visual & noise pollution; doubts that that wind is as effective as claimed; and would depend on the size of the wind turbines, the access routes to them, topography, etc.

Summary Denmark & Awhitu Overall, the results were similar between the two countries Contrary to the assertions of several lobby groups, the majority of local residents support the construction of a wind farm

Conclusion Denmark & Awhitu However, in the AU study, the community had specific concerns: proponents behaviour toward the community the lack of transparency about the process & in particular, the site selection, the accuracy of the information provided  In NZ, despite the application being declined due to opposing submissions, the decision was appealed & judicial approval was given based on the amended RMA (significant adverse effects were balanced with the national benefits)