Wind Energy Stakeholder Debate

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Wind Energy Stakeholder Debate

• In-Class Activity

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Overview

• Students take on different roles of those
  involved with siting a wind farm
• Players range from environmentalists, to opposing
  neighborhood residents, to economists, to
  government agency officials
• Each student/group of students takes on a
  different role and is given a brief synopsis of
  their role
• Students speak to City Council, proposing either
  building or not building the wind farm based on
  their assigned role
• The teacher or selected students act as City
  Council and decides who the winner of the debate
  is

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Objectives

•  
• Students will learn that putting up a wind plant
  is not a simple process, and it affects many
  people
• Students will be introduced to the many different
  players in the wind energy development process
• Students will become more familiar with the
  challenges presented when planning to put up a
  wind development

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Activity Preparation

• Assign students roles
• Groups of students or individual students will
  take on each side of the debate
• Equal number of teams for pros and cons
• Determine who is on City Council they will
  determine the winning side at the end of the
  debate
• Read and understand assigned role
• Each student will review the fact sheet that
  corresponds to their role
• They are to base their arguments in the debate on
  these facts
• Students will attempt to appeal to City Council
  by arguing their side of the debate

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Issues surrounding wind farm development

• Pros

• Cons

• Zero pollutant emissions
• Environmentally-friendly
• Renewable energy
• Declining costs
• Economic benefits for local and national economy
• Clean air means healthier air

• Wildlife impacts
• Impacts on existing fossil fuel industry
• Costs
• Noise
• Aesthetics
• Hazardous weather conditions

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Proposal for Wind Farm

• Family Farm Wind Co. is a wind energy company
  that has applied for a conditional-use permit to
  build a 1,000 acre wind farm just outside of
  town. The wind farm will consist of 62 industrial
  wind turbines and will provide electricity to
  2,500 customers.
• City Council is holding a Community Forum to
  discuss the proposed development, and everyone in
  town in invited.
• Your job to make City Council side with your
  arguments.
• Use the facts on your handout and argue according
  to the opinions of your assigned role

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Rules!

• You may use information found on handout or other
  background knowledge, but must present facts!
• You may only speak to City Council when called on
• You may refute other sides claims as soon as
  that side finishes speaking
• You should work together with teammates to appeal
  to council members
• Bribing is not discouraged (it must be in the
  form of campaign contributions of course)

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Ready, Set, Debate!
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Breaking News!

• U.S. Congress has just passed legislation that
  would increase tax cuts on wind energy!
• Land owners that provide leases to wind energy
  companies could earn an extra 1000/year
• Wind energy companies will earn an extra 2
  cents/KWH
• Cities that host wind farms can earn extra tax
  revenue that can be used as funding for city
  programs or city-owned renewable energy
  initiatives
• YOU CAN CHANGE SIDES if you feel this tax cut is
  important to your role! What would you do in this
  situation?

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Breaking News!

• The wind developer discovered endangered bat
  populations in a location near the proposed wind
  farm
• This population might be affected by the
  installation of wind turbines near their
  territory
• The wind turbines could be moved farther from the
  bats homes, or could be turned off at low wind
  speeds when the bats are likely to be flying
  around the site
• YOU CAN CHANGE SIDES if you feel this tax cut is
  important to your role! What would you do in this
  situation?

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End of Debate Winners Decided

• City Council Members will now vote on a verdict.
  Will the wind farm be built or not?

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What have we learned?

• Is deciding to build a wind farm an easy task?
• How does the decision to build or not build a
  wind farm affect the citizens of the town as well
  as industry?
• How can we come to a decision that will please
  the majority?
• What will you take away from this activity?

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This Debate Is Happening Right Now Not Too Far
From YOU

• A wind farm has been proposed on Perrin Ranch, 13
  miles north of Williams.
• The Coconino County Board of Supervisors recently
  spend two days of debate deciding to approve the
  project.
• A conditional use permit must be approved by
  Coconino County Planning and Zoning Commission
  and the County Board of Supervisors.
• Community Meetings are currently going on to
  determine the proposed wind farms future.