Week 11-Google Earth

Wind Farm Evaluation and Site

I have chosen this as a suitable spot for a wind farm. According to NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) the Wind Power Class is 8.0-8.8 m/s at a point 50m from the ground. This translates to 17.9-19.7 mph wind speed. It is rated as an area with Outstanding Resource Potential. I also have evaluated that the site is in a relatively sparse area. The closest house is approximately 0.5 miles from the site. Overall there are just a few houses within a 1 mile range. With fewer houses in the region the visual impacts should be reduced. I have made a study of the bird migration routes and this is in a the migration for Canvasback Ducks and Dabbling Ducks but researches say ducks disperse more than other migrating birds. For the construction of the wind farm it is relatively close to the highway for access. The NREL map shows that there is a large 345-499 kv electric transmission line in the region where the power generated by the wind farm can be tied to the electric grid. A possible downside is that this location is near a scenic highway and perhaps the wind farm could be sited more inland, if there was to much public opposition.