Title: Public%20Attitudes%20Towards%20Proposed%20Wind%20Farms:%20A%20cross%20country%20comparison
1Public 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)
2Format for this Session
- The renewable energy story
- Literature review
- Research objectives
- Methodology data
- Results conclusion
3Introduction
- 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
4Salmon Beach WF 1st in 198722m tower, 8m blades
- Towers frequently exceed 100m in height
- visible for long distances
Albany WF 200165m tower, 35m blades
5Introduction
- 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
6Noise 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
7Low 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
8Wind 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
9Planning 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
10Planning 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
11Planning 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
12Planning 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
13Literature 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
14Literature 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)
15Literature 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
16Literature 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
17Literature 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
18Literature 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.
19Research 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
20Research 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
21Case Study Areas
Denmark
Esperance
Albany
22Case 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.
23Case 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) -
24Case 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
25Case 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
26Results 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.
27Results 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
28Results 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
29Results AU - Price affects
30Results Price effects
31Results 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)
32Results 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)
33Summary 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)
34Results 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.
35Summary 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
36ConclusionDenmark 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)