Environmental Impacts of Wind Power |
 |
|
|
|
|
Wind power has far fewer impacts on the environment, human health, and wildlife than power derived from fossil fuels.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CEP supports the responsible and sustainable development of renewable energy, including wind power.
- All technologies have benefits and burdens.
During their life cycle, all technologies have environmental impacts –
on air, soil, and water quality, as well as on human health and
wildlife.
-
As beneficiaries of technology, it is our obligation to mitigate and/or eliminate these impacts as much as possible.
-
Clearly, there are environments where wind power is not appropriate on
certain scales. Communities should carefully weigh the benefits and the costs of their wind decisions.
- Wind power also has impacts beyond the turbines - the construction of transmission lines, the impact of the turbine manufacturing, transporting the turbine parts, etc.
During recent years, the rate of development in the wind industry has exploded.
The technology is relatively young and constantly upgrading. Wind power
also ranges widely in scale, from small 2 kW turbines to big ones of 3 MW,
and their impacts are very different.
These and other
variables mean that the environmental impact of wind power will
continue to need study. For more information, click on the topics below:
NOTE: Wind power has other impacts as well not discussed in full here - such as aesthetics. Many claim that the towers are ugly, for example, and/or that they detract from the natural landscape. Others disagree with this point of view.
Another impact that a CEP reader wanted us to mention was community dynamics. Some communities welcome wind power with little debate. Others have quite active discussions first, and ultimately some decide that wind on certain scales is not right for them.
ANOTHER NOTE: Do wind turbines bother cattle? According to the ranchers we know who have turbines - no. There's no problem. However, others may have had different experiences and if you are concerned, always ask around.
|
|
