Is wind power an abundant resource in the Northwest?

The Northwest and its rugged topography exhibit great wind power potential. The ocean and continental interior, with sharp differentials in air temperature and pressure, are constantly struggling to find a balance. That interplay turns the region’s gorges and mountain passes into wind tunnels. Ridgelines thrusting up into the wind offer prime wind turbine sites.

Wind blows with strength and consistency throughout much of the Columbia Basin and along the Oregon Coast. Most mountain regions have good wind (though development would be inappropriate in portions managed for wilderness values), including the Cascades, Okanogan Highlands and Northern Idaho. Western Montana counts some of the best wind energy turf in the U.S. Montana could reliably supply 116,000 MW, the equivalent of 15% of U.S. electrical demand. Oregon with a trusty 4,900 MW, and Idaho with 8,300 MW, could meet all their own power needs. Washington’s 3,700 potential MW could power 3 million homes.

How can rural communities benefit?

For budget-squeezed rural jurisdictions wind power represents new revenue. Each kilowatt of wind power represents about $1,000 in tax base. Wind developers commonly pay 1-3% of their value annually in property taxes. Since wind plants are among the most capital intensive of electrical generators – a wind turbine’s “fuel” is embodied in the up front investment – they can pay three times more property tax than comparable natural gas turbines.

Another promise borne on the wind is new jobs. During construction, usually around 6-8 months, a 75 MW wind plant might require 200 or so workers, including laborers, electricians and heavy equipment operators. Permanent operations and maintenance positions are also created. For example, Iowa’s Storm Lake wind plant keeps a crew of 20 busy, and pays them $16/hour. For a rural area, that is a small but significant job base. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority estimates wind energy produces 27% more jobs per kilowatt hour than coal and 66% more jobs than natural gas. Wind plants also generate economic spillover effects – one study showed $500,000 in local purchases from a 100 MW installation.

Are wind turbines noisy?

Noise may be a concern to people living near wind projects. However, much of the turbine noise is masked by the sound of the wind itself, and the turbines only run when the wind blows. Noise from wind turbines has diminished as the technology has improved. Early model turbines are generally noisier than most new and larger models. As blades have become more efficient, more of the wind is converted into rotational torque and less into acoustic noise. Under most conditions, modern turbines are quiet.

Do turbines pose a safety hazard?

Unlike most other generation technologies, wind turbines do not use combustion to generate electricity and hence don’t produce air emissions. The only potentially toxic or hazardous materials are relatively small amounts of lubricating oils and hydraulic and insulating fluids. Therefore, contamination of surface or ground water or soils is highly unlikely. The primary health and safety considerations are related to blade movement and the presence of industrial equipment in areas potentially accessible to the public. Depending upon their locations, wind facilities may represent an increased fire hazard. And like all electrical generating facilities, wind generators produce electric and magnetic fields.

Are turbines hazardous to birds?

Bird deaths are the most controversial biological issue related to wind turbines. The deaths of federally protected birds at a wind farm site in California has raised concerns by fish and wildlife agencies and conservation groups. On the other hand, several large wind facilities have operated for years with only minor impacts on birds.

To prevent further bird deaths, both the wind industry and government agencies are sponsoring or conducting research into collisions, relevant bird behavior, and mitigation and avoidance measures at wind facilities. And project developers are conducting biological surveys to avoid choosing sites for new wind projects near major bird feeding, roosting, and resting areas, wetlands, rookeries, or low-level flight paths.

Although bird mortality is a serious concern for the wind industry, structures such as smokestacks and radio and television towers have been associated with far larger numbers of bird kills than have wind facilities. Other sources of bird mortality, such as highways and pollution, are responsible for a much higher proportion of total bird deaths.