The Building Blocks of Responsible

Wind Development
 About SACE
•! Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) has
been a leading advocate for clean, responsible
energy choices that better our communities, our
region and our world, for over 20 years.
•! Since its formal inception in 1985, SACE has
grown from a small group of individuals into a
dynamic organization, with five offices across the
Southeast and initiatives at federal, state and
local levels.
•! As we look towards the future, SACE’s
commitment to preserve, restore and protect our
environment through the use of innovative
technology, grassroots and grasstops education,
and pioneer policy work remains steadfast.

For more information on Southern Alliance for Clean Energy please visit
www.cleanenergy.org
Source: ASU
Source: NREL
 Industry Growth in US

Source: NREL
 Wind is Competitive with Wholesale Power

•! Wholesale price range reflects flat block of power across 23 pricing nodes
•! Wind power prices include sample of projects built from 1998-2008

Source: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Identify your fuel source
 Invest in a secure market
www.dsireusa.org / August 2009 ME: 30% by 2000
New RE: 10% by 2017
VT: (1) RE meets any increase
WA: 15% by 2020* in retail sales by 2012;
MN: 25% by 2025 (2) 20% RE & CHP by 2017
MT: 15% by 2015 (Xcel: 30% by 2020)
ND: 10% by 2015 !! NH: 23.8% by 2025
MI: 10% + 1,100 MW
!! OR: 25% by 2025 (large utilities)*
5% - 10% by 2025 (smaller utilities)
by 2015* !! MA: 15% by 2020
SD: 10% by 2015
+ 1% annual increase
WI: Varies by utility; !! NY: 24% by 2013 (Class I Renewables)
10% by 2015 goal
RI: 16% by 2020
!! NV: 25% by 2025* IA: 105 MW !! OH: 25% by 2025†
!! CO: 20% by 2020 (IOUs)
10% by 2020 (co-ops & large munis)* CT: 23% by 2020
IL: 25% by 2025
!! PA: 18% by 2020†
UT: 20% by 2025* KS: 20% by 2020 VA: 15% by 2025*
CA: 20% by 2010 !! NJ: 22.5% by 2021
!! MO: 15% by 2021
!! NC: 12.5% by 2021 (IOUs) !! MD: 20% by 2022
!!AZ: 15% by 2025 10% by 2018 (co-ops & munis)
!! DE: 20% by 2019*
!! NM: 20% by 2020 (IOUs)
10% by 2020 (co-ops)
!! DC: 20% by 2020

TX: 5,880 MW by 2015

29 states & DC
have an RPS
HI: 40% by 2030
5 states have goals
State renewable portfolio standard ! Minimum solar or customer-sited requirement
State renewable portfolio goal

Solar water heating eligible *† Extra credit for solar or customer-sited renewables

Includes separate tier of non-renewable alternative resources

DSIRE: www.dsireusa.org August 2009

Avoid Pre-Identified
Sensitive Lands
Leasing Wind Rights
Land is leased much like a cell
phone tower.
Leases range from 25-40 years with
options
Land lease payments can be firm
cost $3000-$4000/MW/yr
or
Land lease payments can be
percentage of production: 2-3%
or
Combination of fixed base rate plus
% of production
Wind developer pays for increased
property taxes as result of project
Wind Resource Measurement

!! Wind speed and direction

measured 365/24/7 for 2-3 years
!! Temperature, pressure,
humidity, and other factors may
be recorded
!! Offshore wind projects
measure wind and wave
conditions.
!! Tower height at least 60m.
!! SODAR and LIDAR used to
verify wind velocities at hub
height (80m-100m)
 Engage the Local Population
-!The public plays an integral part in any significant wind farm development and
will have legitimate questions

-!Studies and public presentations should occur

throughout the process to answer questions.

-!The public will remain interested throughout the

various phases of the project, and should be kept
informed on relevant studies and project progression

-!NIMBY will occur. “Not In My Back Yard”, especially

if neighbors lack adequate background information.

-!Proper studies and factual information can

overcome the kneejerk NIMBY objections
 Permitting Requirements

There are different permitting requirements from state to

state, but generally, the following permits are typical of
a wind project:

•! Local Building Codes

•! State Level/Environmental
•! Utility Commission
•! FAA Obstruction Analysis
and Microwave Interference
 Local Permitting
General Components (deal with local impacts)

•! Setbacks from property lines,

buildings, transmission lines,
public roads

•! Shadow Flicker

•! Regulate Noise Impacts

•! Decommissioning
 State Permitting

State State/Local Local

Involvement Involvement Involvement

Minnesota North Carolina Texas

•! Ensure State Quality Control and Oversight on project

impacts
•! Ensures due diligence conducted in understanding
impacts to wildlife, ecological impacts, cultural and historic
sites, noise, viewsheds, and health and safety
•! Analyze, Minimize, Mitigate Significant Impacts
FAA & Microwave

"!FAA Obstruction Analysis

required if over 200 feet. Will
determine if a hazard to
navigation and prescribe
navigational lighting.

"!Microwave study will

ensure turbines are clear of
existing microwave
transmissions.
National Telecommunications
Information Administration
"!Coordinates all other
federal agency comments

"!45 days to comment on

projects

Examples:
"!DOD
"!DHS
"!NSA
"!DOI
"!DOE
 Do Your Homework

Properly sited wind projects are among the least impactful

ways of generating electricity. State regulation and oversight
is strongly recommended in order to ensure proper
minimization and mitigation practices are put in place during
the pre-construction of wind farms.
 Avian Impact – Birds
Birds were a major concern in the
1980’s in California, but with
technology improvements and
modernization along with pre-
construction practices, bird kills have
been greatly reduced.
 Avian Impact – Bats

Bats are a more recent concern for the industry. The Bat Wind
Energy Collaborative, (Bat Conservation International, the Department
of Energy, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and American
Wind Energy Association) has recently discovered that impacts can
be greatly reduced by raising the cut in speeds of the wind turbines
during migration seasons (typically late August-early September).
 Noise
Boone, NC - 1983 Modern Turbines
•! High RPMs •! Lower RPMs
•! Downwind •! Upwind
•! Short, Heavy, 2 metal blades •! Lighter, Longer Fiberglass Blades
Turbines: 1 mile away
 Interconnection Studies
Where to connect?
Proximity to grid/substation
Safety:
Disconnects
Backfeed
Transmission Capacity:
How much more can it take?
Required upgrades and additions:
Substations, transmission lines
Integrating the energy:
Predicted generation versus demand
 Getting Paid: The PPA
The Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is the contract the
developer has with the utility to purchase the energy from the
wind farm.
This contract is critical to securing financing for the project and
its economic success.
Finally – Construction!
Wind Farm Construction
 Truck drivers,
crane operators Earth moving, cement pouring

Wind Turbine Components

Construction
Management and support
 Direct wind project jobs during operations

Operations and maintenance, management

Landowner royalties

Parts and materials purchased

Utility services and subcontractors 11

Recap of Timeline
 Thanks!

Knoxville, TN Atlanta, GA
Gil Melear-Hough Rita Kilpatrick
TN Director of Renewable Programs Georgia Policy Director
gil@cleanenergy.org kilpatrick@cleanenergy.org

Brandon Blevins Mary Carr Bendeck

Wind Program Coordinator Renewable Energy Coordinator
blevins@cleanenergy.org mary@cleanenergy.org

Charlotte, NC Asheville, NC
Glenn Mauney Ulla Reeves
Carolinas Energy Policy Manager Regional Program Director
glenn@cleanenergy.org ulla@cleanenergy.org

Charleston, SC
Toni Reale
Coastal Program Coordinator
toni@cleanenergy.org