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The Bottom Lines for the USVI

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The Bottom Lines for the USVI

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  1. Expanding Wind Energy Utilization and Environmental Protection in the USVI:---------Striking the BalanceVirgin Islands Energy Office Wind Energy Workshop Wyndham Sugar Bay Beach ResortJanuary 31, 2008Onaje Jackson, President Sustainable Systems and Design International, LLC (SSDI)

  2. The Bottom Lines for the USVI The Balance MUST Struck!! “ Wind energy development is a fact of life in a world of dramatic changes in energy availability and usage in the New Millenium. Some environmental advocates, are calling for the installation of hundreds of thousands, even over 1 Million new wind turbines worldwide to satisfy human energy needs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

  3. The Bottom Lines for the USVI “ Can we have wind energy and conserve bird, bat, and other wildlife populations simultaneously? Most major ornithological and conservation organizations believe we can, if we use our best science and adequate monitoring to place wind turbines and wind farms ONLY in appropriate, relatively safe locations Much research is underway and a variety of reports and peer reviewed publications are available. At the same time, anti-wind activists are confusing the issue by making statements that confuse the public and evenconfuse conservation biologists”

  4. The Bottom Lines for the USVI .New informational listserver:WindTurbinesWildlife@yahoogroups.com. Home page:http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/WindTurbinesWildlife.Stan MooreFairfax Raptor Research San Geronimo, CA 94963 707.479.9863

  5. Avian impact analysis- limited to existing bird studies and counts; theoretical in nature Two major areas of potential avian impact from VI wind projects include: 1) disturbance of bird habitat from wind project land clearing requirements; VIEO Wind Energy Report Review of Environmental Impact Evaluation

  6. 2) Direct bird kills - from birds colliding with wind machinery while moving from one feeding/watering site to the next (mostly major coastal wetlands and ponds); The potential for bird stikes/kills is greater with more concentrated, smaller turbine groupings (faster blade tip speeds) and lesser with more dispersed, larger wind turbine groupings (slower blade tip speeds); Conclusion: When compared to continental conditions, the potential for negative avian impact from wind projects in the VI is relatively low VIEO Wind Energy Report Review of Environmental Impact Evaluation

  7. Local Avian ExpertsWeigh In • Appropriate original studies on the potential intersection of major on-island bird & bat movements with likely wind project machine groupings - are needed to estimate the potential for bird kills from major wind power projects in the Territory • Each major project site should be evaluated on an individual basis • Wetlands, coastlines, and ridgelines are areas of particular avian vulnerability

  8. Wind Developers: Beware of: E.D.S (Environmental Dismissal Syndrome) “Push-Back” Factor

  9. United States Department of the Interior Fish Wildlife ServiceInterim Guidelines to Avoid and Minimize Wildlife Impacts From Wind Turbines Goal: To assist the wind energy industry in avoiding or minimizing Impacts to wildlife and their habitats. Recommended Strategy: 1. Proper evaluation of potential Wind Resource Areas (WRAs) 2. Proper location and design of turbines and associated structures within WRAs selected for development, and

  10. 3. Pre- and post-construction research and monitoring to identify and/or assess impacts to wildlife Due to local differences in wildlife concentration and movement patterns, habitats, area topography, facility design, and weather, each proposed development site is unique and requires detailed, individual evaluation. Interim Guidelines to Avoid and Minimize Wildlife Impacts From Wind Turbines, Cont.

  11. Protocol to Rank Potential Terrestrial Wind Energy Development Sites By Impacts on Wildlife Potential Impact Index (PII) A “first cut” analysis of the sustainability - by estimating use of the site by Selected wildlife species as an indicator of potential impact. There are two steps to follow in ranking sites by their potential impact on wildlife: • Identify and evaluate reference sites within the general geographic area of Wind Resource Areas (WRAs) being considered for development of facility. • Evaluate potential development sites to determine risk to wildlife, and rank sites against each other using the highest-ranking reference site as a standard. While high-ranking sites are generally less desirable for wind development, a high rank does not necessarily preclude development of a site, not does a low rank automatically eliminate the need to conduct pre-development assessment of wildlife use and impact potential.

  12. P.P.I. Check list • The PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTE check list considers topographic, meteorological, and site characteristics that may influence bird and bat occurrence and movements. • The SPECIES OCCURRENCE AND STATUS check list includes: Birds of Conservation Concern at the Bird Conservation Region level • The ECOLOGICAL ATTRACTIVENESS checklist evaluates the presence and influence of ecological magnets and other conditions that would draw birds or bats to the site or vicinty.

  13. USVI Permit/Regulatory Issues Four existing U.S. Virgin Islands laws: • VI Zoning Law (Virgin Islands Code Chapter 3, Title 29), • The Solar and Wind Energy System Law (VIC Chapter 34, Title 28), • the Public Utilities Regulatory and Policy Act, and • The Virgin Islands Building Code (VIC Chapter 5, Title 29), Other Key Regulations: • The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) regulations on the allowable height and beaconing of towers, as it relates to aviation and airport safety,

  14. USVI Permit/Regulatory Issues, cont. The Solar and Wind Energy System Law. Law added to the VI Code in 1984. • "in the public interest to develop and expand solar and wind energy systems to meet the present and future energy needs of the Virgin Islands". • The Law specified that "zoning regulations would be promulgated that would encourage and protect renewable energy systems" (VIC, chapter 34, Title 28, Section 1002).

  15. USVI Permit/Regulatory Issues, Cont. • No zoning regulations have been promulgated up to this time. • One provision of the Law (Section 1005) specifies that "a tower used in a solar or wind energy system may exceed the height limitation of the district in which it is located by no more than one hundred (100) feet."

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