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Friday, January 11, 2013

Problems in citing green energy projects

By TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI.org News staff

A massive report about developing big wind, solar and hydropower energy in Rhode Island was recently released. The 392-page report (pdf) and 659-page technical addendum (pdf) provide in-depth analysis, data and tools for designing and constructing renewable energy projects.

But the Renewable Energy Siting Partnership (RESP), coordinated by the University of Rhode Island, has yet to deliver the promised guidelines for building wind turbines. The project presents a comprehensive review of controversial impacts of utility-scale turbines, such as icing, fall zones, and danger to birds and bats. The report, however, calls for further review of existing turbines in the state in order to learn more about shadow flicker, noise and changes in property values.


“The task of harnessing wind energy potential in Rhode Island is complicated by the fact that the windiest parts of the state tend to also be densely populated or important wildlife habitat,” according to the report.
Previous, yet preliminary, RESP siting guidelines were referenced in proposed wind projects last year, such as those that were defeated in Westerly and Middletown. 

Other projects, such as the multi-turbine proposal sought by the East Bay Energy Consortium, have sought the guidelines in order to advance their initiatives.

Pulling back from setting benchmarks, however, allows communities to determine their own tolerance for some of the risks, according to the report.

"We don't want to put out regulations that have a backlash," said Marion Gold, who served as leader of the RESP team until she took over as head of the state Office of Energy Resources (OER) in August.

Any future guidelines will likely come from the OER and the state Division of Planning as part of their work on updating Rhode Island's energy plan. A public meeting on the energy plan and RESP is scheduled for Jan. 17.

For now, the RESP report and the RIEnergy website offer numerous research tools, maps and funding sources for siting wind turbines, solar-landfill arrays and hydropower.

More than 100 landfills are offered as prospective sites for solar projects, such as the Central Landfill in Johnston, the Newport Naval station and a URI disposal area. Of the state’s 57 largest dams, six are already licensed hydropower facilities, and six others have preliminary permits for new power projects.

Renewable energy experts, local universities and state agencies helped write the RESP report. The project was launched in 2011 by then-OER director Kenneth Payne.