Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
2.5.6 Government Agency Opposition
One inal form of opposition that can derail a proposed wind project comes
from government agencies. Two illustrative areas of conlict are concerns
over disruptions to military installations and airport communications.
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Military agencies, airport authorities, and telecommunication authori-
ties may block wind power projects due to concerns that wind turbines
can adversely inluence radar surveillance and communication systems.
Although studies show that interference is negligible, misperceptions can
pose intractable barriers for project developers because often, these bodies
have veto power over neighboring developments or at the very least can
muster up a high degree of regulatory woe. With adequate bufer zones,
such threats can be entirely negated. For planning reference, guidelines reg-
ulating minimum distance and maximum heights of wind turbines are often
available through national civil aviation authorities.
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Mitigating opposition from government agencies shares the same basic
precepts as mitigating public opposition. he threat of opposition can be
minimized by seeking to understand concerns, rectifying misperceptions,
working with stakeholders to develop agreeable mitigation measures when
necessary, and engaging proactively with oicials from government agencies
who may be concerned about the impact of a proposed wind energy project.
In conclusion, as wind power projects expand in scale and scope, man-
aging public perception will become increasingly important.
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Wind power
projects will increasingly encroach upon locations that are valued for aes-
thetic or environmental reasons. A degree of public resistance is unavoidable
because scenic spots such as hilltops, ocean blufs, and wide sweeping plains
are often ideal locations for wind power projects.
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Accordingly, a degree of
reeducation may also be required in many communities in order to entrench
understanding that a transition away from carbon-based electricity genera-
tion requires a degree of community commitment to accepting necessary
trade-ofs. As Dismukes and colleagues point out, “success of radical innova-
tion (such as wide scale wind adoption) requires much of the community it
afects: resolution of technical debates about approach, write-down of exist-
ing investments, unlearning and relearning of organisational behaviors and
practices, creation of new businesses or even industries, perhaps even cul-
tural change. hese processes can take years.”
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2.6 IMPAIRMENT OF EXISTING ECOSYSTEMS
Although the concerns over impairment of existing community endowments
outlined to this point in the chapter are typically the strongest impediment
