Acting Locally-Impacting Globally

1. Acting Locally-Impacting Globally

2. Alternative Energy in Wayne County Is our future in the wind?

3. The Alternative Energy Task Force of Wayne County Wind Power Technology and Siting Issues

4. Presentation Outline • About the Alternative Energy Task Force • New York’s Current Energy Mix • Why Wind Power? • Community Concerns and Siting Issues • Conclusion

5. About The Alternative Energy Task Force of Wayne County

6. The Alternative Energy Task Force of Wayne County • Formed in 2006 as a not-for-profit organization. • Based in Lyons, New York. • Comprised of local community members. • Our Mission Statement:

7. “Our mission is to determine ways to deploy alternative energy solutions in the Wayne County area that will benefit our communities. Our goals include reducing and controlling costs, fostering cooperation and promoting economic growth.”

8. Activities: • Advocate for clean energy at the local, New York State Legislative, and US Congressional levels. • Actively educate opinion leaders and the public about the benefits of clean energy. • Promote alternative solutions to Municipal, School and public/private entities (i.e. Sodus, Newark School districts, Sodus Village Water, Community Wind Project, Parker-Hannafin (Lyons). • Serve as the leading voice for clean energy through the media and informational website. • Serve as a conduit for “Green” business opportunities for our region through networking activities and ongoing communications. • Communicate and affiliate with like minded organizations to enhance our knowledge and understanding, and to strengthen our ability to promote alternative energy solutions (i.e. ACENY).

9. New York’s Current • Generation Mix

10. Information courtesy of ACENY

11. Impacts of Current GeneratingPractices • Sulfur Dioxide "Acid rain” • Carbon Dioxide " Global warming” • Nitrogen Dioxide " Smog” • Health Impacts " Asthma,Mercury poisoning, etc.” • Safety and Security Concerns Information courtesy of ACENY

12. NYS Coal Power Plants NYS Coal - Air pollution: * 19,772,092 tons of carbon dioxide • (climate change) * 25,379 tons of nitrogen oxides • (smog) * 121,160 tons of sulfur dioxides • (acid rain) * 762 pounds of mercury • (neurological damage) 60 percent of mercury in Northeast comes from regional sources Information courtesy of ACENY

13. Today’s Reality NYS Oil Power Plants • 12 percent of NYS electricity comes from oil-fired power plants * 32 million barrels of oil per year * 87 percent from foreign sources * 10.6 million tons of CO2 (climate change) * 46,000 tons of SO2 (acid rain) * 12,000 tons of NOX (smog) NYS Nuclear Power Plants • 29 percent of NYS electricity comes from 6 nuclear power plants * Still no viable means of disposal * Security presents safety and cost issue Information courtesy of ACENY

14. Cost to Ratepayers of Imported Fuels for Electricity – 2004 (8.7 billion total) Information courtesy of ACENY

15. NY Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) • NY State policy goal of 25 percent renewable • electricity by 2013 established by Governor Pataki • and the NYS PSC • Currently 18-19 percent - mostly from hydropower • Environmental benefits: • * Improved air quality: 5 – 7 percent reduction in nitrogen • oxides (smog), sulfur dioxides (acid rain) and carbon • dioxide (climate change). • * Avoided resource use. Every kilowatt of wind power will • displace coal, oil, or gas generated electricity. Information courtesy of ACENY

16. Why Wind Power?

17. Wind Power is Growing Worldwide 1. Germany: 18,428 MW 2. Spain: 10,027 MW 3. USA: 9,149 MW 4. India: 4,430 MW 5. Denmark: 3,122 MW Global Cumulative Installed Capacity 1995 - 2005 Global Capacity Has Increased By 25 Percent Last Year Alone!

18. Why Wind Power? • Emissions Free • * No Pollution • Fuel Free • *Energy Independence • Predictable Price • *Not subject to outside factors • Economic Development Tool Information courtesy of ACENY

19. Job growth from wind power • * Temporary (construction) and full-time (operation and • maintenance) positions come from wind farms • * For every 10 - 20 turbines installed, one operation-and maintenance job is created • * In addition to direct jobs created, projects also support job • creation within the community through the provision of goods and services (ex. lodging, meals, supplies, etc.) • * Phase I of the Maple Ridge project (120 turbines) created • 400 construction jobs. When entirely finished in 2006 with • 195 turbines, the project will create 10 - 15 full-time jobs Information courtesy of ACENY

20. Other economic benefits * Wind power operating costs are relatively fixed. * Wind power fixed prices help keep other prices lower during electric price increases * Supplemental income to landowners, frequently farmers, in the form of lease payments * Keeps energy dollars in state: currently 5 percent of power generated in state comes from fossil fuels purchased out of state Information courtesy of ACENY

21. Economic Development • Wind farms bring economic development to • communities through Payments in Lieu of Taxes • (PILOTs) • In Madison County for instance: • * $150,000 per year is paid to the Town of Fenner • * $60,000 per year is paid to Town of Madison and school district • Other business developments receive property tax • breaks: from (IDAs) and other governmental entities: • * utility plants, • * manufacturing facilities, and • * non-profit organizations Information courtesy of ACENY

22. Community Concerns • & Siting Issues

23. Aesthetics • Beauty is in eye of beholder: • "Some see “kinetic art” • "Some see “industrial giants” • Turbines generally viewed from significant distance • Layout of wind farm can mitigate viewshed impact

24. Information courtesy of ACENY

25. Information courtesy of ACENY

26. Shadow Flicker • Sun low in sky; sunbeam interrupted by rotating • turbine blade • *Seasonally dependent • Ice Shedding • *Small pieces of ice may be thrown; larger pieces • typically drop within blade length from tower – not • Thrown • *Worldwide—no case of injury known Information courtesy of ACENY

27. Minimizing Impacts Noise, shadow flicker and ice shedding issues can all be minimized by proper setbacks and turbine siting.

28. Property Value Impacts: • Bard Center for Environmental Policy study, May, 2006: • ” The report finds no measurable effects of windmill visibility on property values.” • Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP) study, • May, 2003: • “The statistical analysis of all property sales in the view shed and the comparable community provides no evidence that wind development has harmed property values within the view shed. There is no valid empirical support for claims that wind development will harm property values.” • Phoenix Economic Development Group study, October, 2002: • “Views of wind turbines will not negatively impact property values. Based on a nation-wide survey conducted of tax assessors in … areas with wind power projects, we found no evidence supporting the claim that views of wind farms • decrease property values.”

29. Conclusions

30. Adding wind power to New York’s electric • grid offers substantial benefits, particularly • to rural NY communities. • While there are siting issues to be • considered, all are surmountable. • Early public education, dialogue and • involvement are essential to successful • projects. Information courtesy of ACENY

31. Resources www.aceny.org Alliance for Clean Energy New York www.awea.org American Wind Energy Association www.nationalwind.org National Wind Coordinating Committee

32. Wayne County can become 40-50% green county by 2013 with your help! Acting Locally-Impacting Globally