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Title: Public%20Attitudes%20Towards%20Proposed%20Wind%20Farms:%20A%20cross%20country%20comparison


1
Public Attitudes Towards Proposed Wind Farms A
cross country comparison
  • Dr. Sandy Bond
  • Senior Lecturer
  • Curtin University of Technology
  • Charmaine Watts,
  • Founder of Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff NZ
    (REFIT-NZ)

2
Format for this Session
  • The renewable energy story
  • Literature review
  • Research objectives
  • Methodology data
  • Results conclusion

3
Introduction
  • The government is supporting the development of
    renewable energy technology, such as wind power,
    in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gases in line
    with the Kyoto agreement
  • In NZ 90 of electricity to be from renewable
    resources by 2025 Vs Australia 20 by 2020
  • This has generated a surge of interest in
    renewable energy, particularly wind power
  • In Australia, in 2008 total operating capacity
    was 1125 MW on 42 wind farms NZ has 322 MW on 8
    wind farms

4
Salmon Beach WF 1st in 198722m tower, 8m blades
  • Towers frequently exceed 100m in height
  • visible for long distances

Albany WF 200165m tower, 35m blades
5
Introduction
  • As wind development accelerates to meet renewable
    energy targets, easing siting and permitting
    barriers will be crucial
  • Among the barriers are claims that wind farms
    cause
  • Aesthetics issues
  • Reduced property values
  • Noise
  • Loss of bird ( bat) life
  • Inefficiency WFs are notoriously inefficient,
    rarely achieving even half their rated
    capacities, due to fluctuating winds

6
Noise Measurement
  • The issue of turbine noise commonly related to
    low frequency infrasound noise that are poorly
    measured
  • Most noise standards are weighted to the dB (A)
    scale that discriminates against low frequency
    sounds
  • dB(A) scale is not an accurate indicator of the
    disturbing effects of such noise

7
Low Frequency Noise
  • The problem is that wind turbines generate far
    more low frequency noise than high frequency
    noise
  • Lower frequency noise is more efficiently
    transmitted can be heard over greater distances
    than higher frequency noise
  • Humans perceive low frequency noise as louder
    more annoying than higher frequency noises with
    equal pressure levels

8
Wind Turbine Syndrome
  • Nina Pierpont - An MD
  • "Wind Turbine Syndrome," a cluster of
    stress-related physiological effects of turbine
    noise (1.5-3 MW)
  • Symptoms sleep disturbance, headache, tinnitus,
    dizziness, nausea, visual blurring, panic
    associated with sensations of internal pulsation.
  • She recommends a 2km buffer between turbines
    homes

9
Planning Policy
  • Developers intending to build a wind farm in NZ
    AU must apply for planning/resource consent from
    the relevant council
  • In both countries, a proposal may be subject to
    an assessment of environmental effects,
    particularly where it would have a significant
    effect on the environment, public submissions
    are usually required

10
Planning Policy NZ
  • Interestingly, in NZ, the RMA has been amended as
    part of Parliaments climate change measures to
    aid the planning process
  • This amendment, together with various
    climate-change policies, were significant in the
    judicial approval of the Awhitu wind farm
  • The Court determined that the wind farm would
    have significant adverse effect on the natural
    landscape of the coastal environment but that it
    was important to balance this with the national
    benefits

11
Planning Policy NZ UK
  • Similar to NZ AU, wind power is crucial to the
    UK governments attempts to meet an EU target of
    producing 20 of all energy from renewables by
    2020
  • Yet according to Stratton (2009) plans to build
    some 4,000 onshore wind turbines are being
    opposed by more than 200 anti-wind farm groups
  • The NZ outcome is similar to what may occur in
    the UK with the passage of the Planning Act 2008,
    which will give government powers to intervene in
    unsuccessful attempts to achieve planning consent
    to build wind farms

12
Planning Guidelines WA
  • Town Planning WA Planning Commission
  • Wind farm developments to include sufficient
    setbacks to avoid adverse noise impacts on the
    amenity of the community
  • As a guide, the distance to be 1km
  • Wind farm developments should be designed to
    ensure that noise generated will not exceed
    5dB(A) above the background sound level

13
Literature Review Summary Property Value Impacts
  • Sales analysis results
  • There is ongoing controversy about the impact of
    wind farms on property values with no one study
    providing conclusive evidence of any impact
  • Most tested for proximity impacts
  • None of the studies, except Hoen (2006), visited
    homes
  • Sample size is problematic in many of the studies
  • Statistical analysis is sometimes not rigorous

14
Literature Review Summary Public Surveys - NZ
  • Two studies of public opinion to wind energy
    the existing Tararua wind farm
  • 60 of respondents expressed some level of
    support for building a wind farm in their local
    area
  • The main reason cited for opposing such
    development was the perceived visual auditory
    impact (Berg 2003)


15
Literature Review Summary Public Surveys - NZ
  • Phipps (2007) studied the visual noise effects
    experienced by residents living within a 3km ring
    of wind farms
  • A majority (84) of the households reported they
    could see turbines from their home
  • Of these, 80 considered the turbines intrusive
  • Wind turbine noise disturbed the sleep of 42 of
    respondents


16
Literature Review Summary Public Surveys - WA
  • Results Albany Esperance, WA 2008
  • For 96.2 the proximity of the wind farm was not
    a concern
  • Reasons the wind farm is not close to
    residential areas so they cannot see or hear it
    in favour of renewable energy


17
Literature Review Summary Public Surveys - WA
  • The majority of respondents are very supportive
    of the wind farm
  • Provision of renewable, clean energy
  • Aesthetically pleasing (more than expected)
  • Far enough away from homes
  • Tourism educational benefits
  • However, some respondents think of the wind farm
    in negative terms
  • Too noisy
  • Ruining coastal landscape
  • Qs about accuracy of information provided re the
    capacity of the WF how efficient it is


18
Literature Review Summary
  • In summarising various public surveys, Boffa
    Miskell (2003) note
  • People in favour of renewable energy wind power
    are more positive about turbines wind farms in
    the area
  • The NIMBY syndrome has the strongest effect in
    areas where there is no or very little knowledge
    about wind power
  • Public involvement and consultation has a
    positive effect on peoples attitudes and level
    of acceptance.

19
Research Objectives
  • Aims
  • To determine if there is any substance to claims
    against wind farm developments by surveying
    community attitudes towards these
  • The results can be used to
  • Inform local government and power companies to
    help increase the success rate of planning
    applications thus meet renewable energy targets

20
Research Methodology
  • Method A case study approach was used
  • An opinion survey was delivered to residents in
    windy towns in W.A. NZ
  • Denmark, WA (n 500, returned 46)
  • Awhitu, NZ (n 500, returned 45)
  • Q1 Visited a wind farm with more than 1 turbine
  • NZ Only 24 had visited a WF
  • AU 88 had visited a WF

21
Case Study Areas
Denmark
Esperance
Albany
22
Case Study Areas Awhitu
  • The wind farm proposed location was on a
    privately owned farm, approx. 6km west of the
    township of Waiuku
  • The proposed 19 wind turbine structures had a
    max. overall height (including the rotor) of 90m
    from the base
  • The turbines have a nominal capacity of between
    600 - 1500 kW each total installed capacity
    between 15 to 25 MW.

23
Case Study Awhitu
  • Individuals opposing the wind farm made
    submissions on environmental effects cultural,
    bird kill, erosion, shadow flicker, traffic,
    decommissioning, health, noise, etc
  • One key element of the opposing submissions was
    the claim that a significant majority of the
    local population opposed the construction of the
    wind farm
  • As a consequence of these opposing submissions,
    the application was declined in September 2004
    (subsequently appealed)

24
Case Study Areas Denmark
  • Located 421 km (262 miles) south of Perth, the
    capital of WA
  • Denmarks population approx. 5,000
  • The proposed farm will be the first of its kind
    in Australia a community-scaled embedded
    generation project owned operated by the
    Denmark community through an incorporated
    association
  • The wind farm is to be located 10km south of the
    Denmark town-site
  • 2 x 800 kW wind-turbine generators, supplying 60
    of Denmarks annual electricity needs

25
Case Study Areas Denmark
  • Environmental approval gained in 2005
  • However, in April 2009 the council voted 5-7
    against the excision of the 53ha of A-class
    reserve land on Wilson Head
  • in order to preserve the amenity and
    landscape values
  • While the council community supported a wind
    farm, debate focused on the lack of public
    support for the Wilson Head site
  • The South Coast Landscape Guardians have been
    particularly vocal on the issue, claiming that
    siting the wind turbines at Wilson Head blights
    pristine land

26
Results Feelings about Proposal
  • Reasons
  • Benefits in producing clean, sustainable,
    renewable energy provides a tourist attraction
  • AU Concerns about damage to the coastal
    vegetation coastline cause visual pollution.

27
Results NZ Q - visual
  • The figures in brackets show responses from those
    who had visited a wind farm Vs those who had not
  • Thus, those who had visited a WF were more in
    favour than those who had no experience with WFs

28
Results NZ Q - Noise
  • A report asserted that the anticipated noise from
    the proposed Awhitu wind farm would be negligible
  • However, nearly a quarter of respondents
    considered noise pollution to be a problem

Results AU Q Noise/View
  • While specific Qs relating to visibility noise
    were not included, Qs were asked relating to
    proximity to the proposed wind farm (a proxy for
    how easily a wind farm might be seen heard)
  • For the majority of them (80) the proximity of
    the proposed wind farm was not a concern to them
    as it is not close to where they live (2-5km
    away) they would not see it

29
Results AU - Price affects

30
Results Price effects

31
Results Advantages
  • Low energy source AU Disappointed did not cost
    less (i.e. sold as efficient energy)
  • Employment AU Usually during construction only
    maybe more jobs with more tourism (AU)

32
Results Concerns

It appears that the AU respondents were far more
concerned about the potential harmful impact on
wildlife than NZ respondents (in NZ 33 said yes
or unsure in AU 47 were worried somewhat to a
lot)
33
Summary Results Awhitu, NZ Denmark, WA
  • Over two-thirds of residents (70 NZ, 74 AU)
    supported a wind farm being built
  • Only 13 NZ (but 21AU) were against
  • Perceived main advantages
  • renewable resource (83NZ, 94 AU),
  • environmental friendliness (76NZ, 87AU)
  • Perceived main disadvantages
  • Visual unsightliness (24NZ, 33AU)
  • Noise pollution (21NZ, 31AU)

34
Results AU Favour WF based on Distance

The reasons given for the responses include
visual noise pollution doubts that that wind
is as effective as claimed and would depend on
the size of the wind turbines, the access routes
to them, topography, etc.
35
Summary Denmark Awhitu
  • Overall, the results were similar between the two
    countries
  • Contrary to the assertions of several lobby
    groups, the majority of local residents support
    the construction of a wind farm


36
ConclusionDenmark Awhitu
  • However, in the AU study, the community had
    specific concerns
  • proponents behaviour toward the community
  • the lack of transparency about the process in
    particular, the site selection,
  • the accuracy of the information provided
  • In NZ, despite the application being declined due
    to opposing submissions, the decision was
    appealed judicial approval was given based on
    the amended RMA (significant adverse effects were
    balanced with the national benefits)

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