What’s wrong with
placing wind turbines in the Flint Hills? Back
To Top
The scenic and biological
integrity of the last extensive stand of Tallgrass Prairie, which once
covered the heartland of America, will be forever changed if wind developers
have their way. The Flint Hills are treasured by many. People from all
over the world come here to experience this serene landscape. Those same
visitors will likely not return to the Flint Hills to see industrial development.
Even wind companies have admitted that tourism will be affected.
Sadly, most of the proposed locations for wind energy facilities are planned
for the more intact areas of the Flint Hills. Turbines will be placed
on the prominent ridge tops where they will be visible for miles in each
direction. When the scenic views no longer exist, what will happen to
the tourism industry and agritourism opportunities?
Don’t we need to do
something about energy alternatives? Back
To Top
Yes, but turbines only run at 15%-35% efficiency because the wind does not blow all the time. Most of the turbines proposed for the Flint Hills are rated at 1.5 megawatts. The current electric grid capacity in the Flint Hills could theoretically accommodate approximately 1/10 of 1% of our nation’s electricity production, not counting energy loss through transmission. Does it make sense to sacrifice the last stand of intact Tallgrass Prairie—the last 3%-- for 1/10 of 1%?
Isn’t wind energy “green energy?” Back
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While it is obvious we need to wean ourselves from our dependency on fossil-based energy, it would be naïve to think that the development of renewables in any location is always a wise choice. Hydro energy is an example of a renewable energy source with many negative ecological consequences. Industrial wind energy, too, has the potential for adverse side affects if siting is not addressed. In terms of a more reliable form of wind energy, small residential wind electric systems are a viable answer in Kansas.
Kansas is powered by nuclear and coal plants. Because of the control necessary to meet the grid’s demands, coal-fired power stations must keep their generators going, thus producing pollutants whether the wind turbines are producing power or not. Because the traditional generators must be “online” at all times in order to guarantee consistent electricity, one MW of wind produced energy does not replace one MW of traditionally produced energy.
We should also keep in mind that wind is not the only renewable alternative, and we should not focus only on the production side of this issue. The most cost effective approach to curbing our addiction to fossil fuels is energy conservation. Every dollar spent on efficient appliances can save $3 to $5 in renewable energy system components. Something as simple as replacing four of the most-used incandescent light bulbs in every home in America with florescent bulbs would be the equivalent of about 5,840 wind turbines of 1.5 MW capacity.
Won’t it reduce our
dependence on foreign oil? Back
To Top
Oil used for electric power generation in the U.S. fell from 20% in 1973 to 2% in 2001. The majority of our oil use (70-80%) is for transportation, not electricity generation. Currently, Kansas is powered by nuclear and coal plants. Because of the control necessary to meet the grid’s demands, coal-fired power stations must keep their generators going, thus producing pollutants whether the wind turbines are producing power or not. Because the traditional generators must be “online” at all times in order to guarantee consistent electricity, one MW of wind produced energy does not replace one MW of traditionally produced energy.
How big are these turbines? Back To Top Proposed wind turbines in the Flint Hills range from 350 to as much as 500 feet tall. Turbines in southwest Kansas and Iowa are considerably smaller than those proposed in the Flint Hills. The Statue of Liberty, the U.S. Capitol, and the Epic Center in Wichita are all shorter than these turbines. |
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Will the construction do
that much damage? Back
To Top
The native plant
community in the Tallgrass Prairie has an extensive root system, some
reaching down to as deep as 15feet. Disturbance from construction activities
could require many decades or even longer for the fragile system to regain
its original character. The turbines will need a base approximately 18-25’
wide by 20-30’ deep, filled with concrete. Drilling and blasting
are the only means to burrow a hole that deep in the limestone bedrock.
The anchoring process and the presence of massive equipment to erect each
turbine will undoubtedly damage a wide area around each site. In addition,
roads will be built to and from each tower as well as trenches for a cable
system to each site.
Once the construction is finished, the Tallgrass Prairie will be fragmented.
The prairie represents much more than four or five species of native grass.
The grass seed for these rare grasses is not available at Wal-Mart. This
truly is a diverse plant community that can not be restored in a few years.
What are the economic benefits
to land owners and others? Back
To Top
Industrial wind companies
lease the land on a per turbine basis. Lease agreements range from $1000
to as much as $11,000 a turbine. Some lease agreements can become void
when wind companies change hands. Other lease agreements allow for subleasing
and even sub-subleasing. Landowners and local government officials should
recognize that they might end up dealing with a wind company that is not
the initial developer.
These companies do not pay any taxes, yet they make millions of dollars
a year in profit. In addition, the 1.5 million dollar turbines can be
depreciated out in only 5 years. The tax payers pick up the tab. Analyses
of states where industrial wind companies are located show an increase
in taxes.
Land owners who have been entrepreneurs in the tourism business will lose
revenue if wind factories are built in their area. Kansas Travel and Tourism
and land owners have worked hard to promote attractions unique to Kansas.
Many tourism opportunities are currently available in the scenic Flint
Hills including trail rides, wagon trains, working ranches, educational
tours, scenic tours, hunting outfitters, and bed and breakfasts. These
land owners will lose and so will Kansas.
Don’t we have siting guidelines in our state? Back To Top
There are no siting guidelines in our state. A number of states have failed to establish siting guidelines, and now they are faced with wind complexes in scenic and/or historic areas and with abandoned wind turbines.
Where should wind turbines go? Back To Top State guidelines
should have been in place before any industrial development was
invited into our state. A comprehensive plan for any industrial
development should include: |
To date, no geological
study has been done on water issues. We do not know if our underground
water system will be jeopardized. Because the foundation of each turbine
is 20-30 feet deep, blasting and drilling must be done to penetrate to
that depth. The Flint Hills rely heavily on wells and springs. We cannot
allow this unnecessary disturbance to create yet another environmental
problem in our state.
Demolition of abandoned turbines is not always included in project plans.
Clean up can cost millions of dollars. Who will pay for this? We need
to know the answer.
Other unexpected expenses for the counties include the purchase of rescue
equipment tall enough to reach the top of a turbine and the repair of
roads from the heavy equipment during construction.
Recognition that turbines can start prairie fires has been ignored, with
no plan for additional fire equipment in the area. California claims that
90% of the fires in one area were caused by wind turbines.
In the Flint Hills, destruction of an unfragmented habitat for wildlife,
especially the prairie chicken, is a very important issue. The prairie
chicken population has been diminishing gradually. Fragmentation of the
Flint Hills will lower the population even more, bringing the prairie
chicken to the endangered species level. Prairie chickens need several
square miles of undisturbed land to establish their nesting habits.
Where are the Flint Hills? MAP
