Wind power gets thumbs down for smog reduction: report

Stan Beer
Friday, 04 May 2007 14:26

Science - Energy

A new US report has concluded that using wind turbines for generating electricity will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by carbon dioxide (CO2) slightly but would not help reduce other air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that cause smog and acid rain.

The report from the National Academies, sponsored by the White House Council on Environmental Quality, estimates that by 2020, wind energy will offset approximately 4.5% of the 39% of the nation's total CO2 emitted by other electricity sources in the US. However, the effect on reducing other pollutants will be minimal because there are already caps on the amount of smog and acid rain producing gases such as Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides in place.

The National Academies is made of The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council.

The report also looked into the effects on wildlife concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that fatalities from existing wind facilities are causing measurable changes in bird populations in the US. However, there could be adverse effects on a regional and local level by damaging habitat and killing birds and bats that fly into turbines, as well as deaths among birds of prey, such as eagles and hawks.

The report recommends studies to evaluate possible ecological impacts should be conducted prior to choosing sites for wind facilities, and follow-up studies should be conducted to measure actual effects. Additional basic research also is needed to help assess the short- and long-term impacts of these facilities on species at risk.

Wind projects also can be disruptive because of noise and shadow flicker, a strobelike effect caused by rotating turbine blades, according to the report.  The report recommends that noise surveys be conducted before a project is sited, and that processes be set up to respond to noise complaints.

Bird and wildlife conservation group, The National Audubon Society released a statement by senior vice president Betsy Loyless in response to the National Academies report.

"The latest report from the National Academies recognizes that properly- sited wind power holds great promise as a source of renewable energy that can reduce global warming pollution," said Ms Loyless. "If we don't find ways toreduce global warming pollution, far more birds and people will be threatened by climate change than by wind turbines. The first rule of avoiding negative impacts is a familiar adage: location, location, location."