Conclusions of the Newburyport Energy Advisory Committee (EAC)Wind Turbine Ordinance Subcommittee

on proposed changes toSection XXVI -Wind Energy Conversion Facilities of the Newburyport Ordinances

Executive Summary

The Wind Turbine Ordinance Subcommittee of the Newburyport Energy Advisory Committee(EAC) has examined information related to proposed changes to Section XXVI -Wind EnergyConversion Facilities of the Newburyport Ordinances. We also have reviewed publicly availablereports and information sources and want to offer clarifications of various impact and sitingissues. Our general conclusions are that the aspects of wind turbine installations related to noise,health, visual impacts, electromagnetic interference, ice throw, environmental impacts onwildlife and avian resources, and consequences to property values have been greatly exaggerated by wind power opponents. We also point out the huge amount of information, oftencontradictory, that is available on these topics.Given our review and the important need to encourage development of renewable energyresources in Massachusetts and locally, the subcommittee strongly believes that it is preferablefor Newburyport’s wind ordinance to accommodate future installations to the extent practical.Recommended changes to the present wind turbine ordinance are therefore limited to changingthe criteria for setbacks from a fixed 300 feet to a 1.5 multiple of the turbine height. We alsorecommend a broadening of project notification procedures to included newspaper notice of theapplication and a clarification of the flicker study requirements.

Introduction

The production and use of energy has more impact on the environment than any other humanactivity. Furthermore, the need for renewable energy as a component of national, regional, andlocal energy production is undisputed and critical to our energy security. Wind power isconsidered one part of the solution to this issue because it is one of the lowest–impact forms of electricity available to us. It is also the most economical form of renewable energy, and everykW generated by wind represents a reduction in C0

emissions and a reduced need for importedfossil fuels.The Newburyport Energy Advisory Committee (EAC) was established to offer advice and expertopinion on such matters that relate to energy. A subcommittee has examined the issues thatrelate to Newburyport’s wind ordinance and in this document, offers its findings and advice. We begin with an examination of the issues that have been the subject of local debate.

Noise and Health

In 2009, a multidisciplinary scientific advisory panel comprised of medical doctors, audiologists,and acoustical professionals conducted a review of current literature available on the issue of perceived health effects of wind turbines. Among their observations are that irritations such asannoyance from wind turbines are also produced by local and highway traffic as well as aircraft;also that low frequency sound produced by turbines was a concern of older turbines but not of modern ones. They concluded:1

1.There is no evidence that the audible or sub-audible sounds emitted by wind turbineshave any direct adverse physiological effects.2.The ground-borne vibrations from wind turbines are too weak to be detected by, or toaffect, humans.3.The sounds emitted by wind turbines are not unique. There is no reason to believe, basedon the levels and frequencies of the sounds and the panel’s experience with soundexposures in occupational settings, that the sounds from wind turbines could plausiblyhave direct adverse health consequences.4.Wind turbines must comply with state and local noise regulations. Since turbines haveno unique acoustic characteristics, these regulations are sufficient.Source:http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/filter_detail.asp?itemid=2487

Setbacks and Height

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has promulgated a model as-of-right wind turbine ordinance with the following siting criteria;1.The height of wind energy facilities shall not exceed 450 feet in height. Communitiesmay set a height limit that is less than 450 feet, provided that the limit selected allows for the as-of-right construction and operation of turbines with a rated nameplate capacity of 600 kW or more.2.Periodically, communities may wish to revisit their siting criteria to ensure that theyreflect industry standards as well as Green Communities Act requirements.3.A wind turbine may not be sited within: (a) a distance equal to the height of the windturbine from buildings, critical infrastructure, or private or public ways that are not partof the wind energy facility; (b) three times (3x) the height of the turbine from the nearestexisting residential structure; or (c) one point five times (1.5x) the height of the turbinefrom the nearest property line.4.The Site Plan Review Authority may reduce the minimum setback distance as appropriate based on site-specific considerations, or written consent of the affected abutter(s), if the project satisfies all other criteria for the granting of a building permit under the provisionsof this section.Source:http://www.mass.gov/Eoeea/docs/doer/gca/gc-model-wind-bylaw-mar-10-2009.pdf

Environmental

The Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust has found that wind energy offers manyenvironmental benefits, notably the absence of polluting emissions. Environmental concernsinclude impacts on local sites, scenery and wildlife. Modern wind technology has made greatstrides in addressing these concerns, and current impact studies for specific sites showsignificantly reduced impacts on wildlife when modern turbines are used.1.Wind energy projects do not emit pollutants that harm wildlife or contribute to climatechange, which is already altering habitats worldwide. However, wind facilities candegrade and fragment wildlife habitat. This may lead to changes in animals' travel andmigration pathways and to the physical displacement of individual animals.2

2.Careful project siting and good design practices can reduce or eliminate these impacts.Avoid locating projects in particularly sensitive habitats because the degree of risk posed by a site depends on both the types and numbers of animals that may be affected.3.For proposed projects, conduct environmental impact assessments to inventory naturalresources and examine how installation and operation might change environmentalconditions and species use patterns. Impact avoidance and mitigation strategies includeinstalling turbines in less sensitive locations and adjusting construction practices andschedules.Source:http://www.masstech.org/cleanenergy/wind/impactenv.htm

Avian

The Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust has also examined avian issues found that the use of monopole towers rather than lattice-type or guyed structures, larger and slower-moving bladesrather than small rapidly spinning ones, and widely spaced turbine arrays rather than dense onesreduce such problems. They also concluded1.Collisions with modern land-based wind turbines account for less than 1 out of every10,000 bird deaths attributable to human causes or 0.01%. Predation by house catsaccounts for about 10% and collisions with buildings and windows for more than 50%.2.According to the best available data, wind power's adverse impacts on birds and batsoccur at the individual rather than the population level, whereas positive effects-such asreductions in emissions of harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases-can be experienced atthe population and species level.Source:http://www.masstech.org/cleanenergy/wind/impactenv.htm

Property Values

The federally sponsored Renewable Energy Policy Project studied 25,000 property transactionsin view shed of wind projects and did not find evidence of wind power reducing property valuescompared to similar sites.Source:http://www.repp.org/articles/ static/1/binaries/wind_online_final.pdf

Visual Impacts and Flicker

The Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust has concluded that wind turbine visibility impactsare unavoidable. However, careful project siting and good design practices can help reduce or eliminate the adverse visual impacts. Computer simulations and balloon and crane tests arecommonly used to provide a realistic picture of how turbine installations might change viewsfrom specific locations. During project design, engineers can also plot very precisely whether and how often flickering shadows might fall on specific locations.A variety of methods are used to alleviate adverse visual impacts. Options include deployingturbines in less visible locations and configurations, painting turbine components in low-contrastcolors, installing low-intensity and nonintermittent lighting systems, and planting trees and other vegetation to screen views from residential and other settings.Source:http://www.masstech.org/cleanenergy/wind/impactenv.htm 3