WIND - FAQ

Download Gengrowth’s Wind Power Report (124 KB)

What are the benefits of wind power?

Wind energy is a very clean source of energy and its benefits have been well documented. Harvesting wind creates no harmful air emissions or hazardous wastes and it doesn’t require fresh water to generate. Increased reliance on wind energy reduces our dependency on fossil fuels, the primary contributor of increasing greenhouse gases. Wind power preserves our natural resources because harvesting wind does not require destructive extraction, transportation or process refinement. Wind power developments bring with it economic development for rural communities as well as employment opportunities.

How big are wind turbines and how much land do they occupy?

The typical commercial turbine tower can be 80m tall, but the tower base is only 8m across and farming can occur right up to the base of the wind turbine. Wind harvesting benefits from wide open space. The actual land used or ‘footprint’ of a wind turbine and access roads represents as little as 1% of the total land sited for a wind project.

Are wind turbines noisy?

Wind turbines are not noisy. Recent design improvements in wind turbine technology have greatly reduced the level of sound emitted by wind turbines. You can stand beneath a wind turbine and carry on a conversation without having to raise your voice. As a wind turbine’s rotation increases with an increase in wind speed, the noise from the wind and rustling in the surrounding environment masks the noise from the turbines. Appropriate setbacks for wind turbines from residential buildings, as determined by the Ministry of Environment, ensure minimal impact.

Are wind turbines dangerous to bird populations?

Current International studies show that modern turbines do not pose any danger to birds. Improvements in modern turbine design result in more power generation by fewer turbines rotating at lower speeds. These improvements greatly reduce potential risks to birds. Many ornithological organizations have come out in strong support of wind power noting that wind power and other renewable energy sources help mitigate green house gas emission which poses the most significant long-term threat to birds.

The National Audubon society strongly supports wind power.

See: For the Birds: Audubon Society Stands Up in Support of Wind Energy http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea//news/article/2006/12/for-the-birds-audubon-society-stands-up-in-support-of-wind-energy-46840

Do the activities of the wind turbine affect crops or livestock?

The activities of the wind turbine do not affect crops or livestock. In fact, wind farming is popular with farmers, because their land can continue to be used for growing crops or grazing livestock. Sheep, cows and horses are not disturbed by wind turbines.

What is the visual impact of wind turbines on the landscape?

People’s perception of wind turbines is highly subjective. While some express concerns about the effects wind turbines have on the beauty of the landscape, others consider them as elegant symbols of a less polluted future. This is further evidenced by increased tourism at some wind farm sites. Appropriate siting of wind turbines helps to enhance wind project aesthetics allowing for a pleasing landscape.

Doesn’t the dirty back up power required when the wind stops blowing mean that the CO2 saving is wiped out?

This is a common claim by anti-wind organizations and is very misleading. Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund and Friends of the Earth have dismissed this claim as false. Please click on the link below to read their response.

See: Yes to Wind