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policy & regulatory SitingResponsible siting of wind projects requires an understanding of interactions with permitting agencies, the public, wildlife, and surrounding land uses during each stage of a project’s development and operation. The recent growth of the wind industry highlights the need for continued understanding of all siting-related issues and current research. Wind Turbine Sound and Human Health In 2009, AWEA and the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA), established a multidisciplinary scientific advisory panel comprising medical doctors, audiologists, and acoustical professionals to conduct a review of current literature available on the issue of perceived health effects of wind turbines. The panel's white paper, titled Wind Turbine Sound and Health Effects: An Expert Panel Review, was released in December 2009. Following review of current literature, the advisory panel concluded that the there is no evidence that the audible or sub-audible sounds emitted by wind turbines have any direct adverse physiological effects.
Offshore Wind Power’s Contribution to 20% Wind Energy by 2030 Webinar The U.S. Department of Energy issued the 20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy's Contribution to U.S. Electricity Supply report in May, 2008, which included 54 gigawatts of offshore wind energy modeled in the 20% scenario analysis. This level of growth will require coordination between state agencies, federal agencies and offshore wind developers. Several panels at AWEA’s Offshore Workshop addressed the need for state and federal actions that will create a favorable climate for offshore wind development. These panels brought together many stakeholders involved in offshore wind to learn from the recent progress in several states. The webinar provides more information on agency / developer relationships and on the development of offshore wind projects in the U.S.
AWEA Siting Handbook The Wind Energy Siting Handbook was developed by the AWEA Siting Committee to inform wind energy developers and other interested parties about environmental siting issues relevant to land-based commercial-scale wind energy project development in the United States. Please use the following link to access this extensive resource document:http://www.awea.org/sitinghandbook Federal Siting Policies On March 17, 2009, AWEA provided testimony to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on policy recommendations for all land management agencies to facilitate wind energy project development. Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
AWEA provided comments at various times as BLM developed its wind energy policies.
AWEA and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) are currently advocating for sufficient resources to process wind energy and solar energy project applications. More information can be found in this document. U.S. Forest Service AWEA provided extensive comments to the draft directives. The “supplemental” comments are more comprehensive with information added after USFS extended the comment period:
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service AWEA commented on the original guidelines:
Minerals Management Service (Offshore wind energy projects) Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58) gave the Minerals Management Service (MMS) authority to regulate alternative energy projects on the Outer Continental Shelf, including offshore wind energy projects. Final regulations are currently expected by the end of 2008. Information on the MMS program is available at this website. AWEA has commented extensively throughout the development of the MMS program:
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