Presentation: Ben Luce & A Scientific Case against Wind Power on Ridgelines
Title: A Scientific Case against Wind Power on Ridgelines (by Ben Luce, Ph.D.)
Location: Skinner Barn, Waitsfield, VT (609 Common Road)
Description: The Friends of Northfield Ridge are hosting Ben Luce, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Physics and Sustainability Studies and a longtime wind advocate. Dr. Luce presents a scientific case against wind power on mountain ridgelines. More information about the presentation available below.
Start Time: 5:00PM
Date: 2010-09-22
End Time: 7:30PM
A Scientific Case against Wind Power on Ridgelines
Vermont’s aggressive renewable energy target legislation and the availability of federal tax credits has created a rush of proposals for industrial-sized wind farms along ridgelines in rural Vermont. Approval of wind project applications is also not subject to the full force of Act 250, is difficult for the public to represent their views, and appears to have been fast-tracked by the Public Service Board. There is growing controversy surrounding these proposals. At the same time, there is near consensus that development of carbon-free energy sources as rapidly as possible is urgently needed to mitigate climate change and other problems.
It is time to take a closer look at whether ridgeline wind development is an efficient means of tapping renewable energy resources in these areas. Does it make sense from a scientific viewpoint? Is it a prudent economic decision? Are there better options?
Professor Ben Luce is a physicist, sustainable energy researcher, and former director of a pro-wind alliance. He advocated successfully for tax credits that resulted in an industrial-scale wind farm on the eastern plains of New Mexico.
As a long-time friend of wind, Dr. Luce nevertheless presents a scientific case against wind power on mountain ridgelines. And perhaps most importantly, he details how solar power can be utilized to reliably supply more than 95% of Vermont’s demand without wind’s controversial impacts to ecosystems, scenery, and property values.
He believes that ridgeline wind power development is simply not needed.
Luce provides evidence that ridgeline wind resources — unlike wind resources in the Midwest and offshore — are insignificant compared to solar energy resources available even in northern states such as Vermont. “Attempting to utilize ridgeline wind to produce anything approaching a significant amount of power will require enormous impacts to mountaintops, for example, the construction of roads and large platforms down hundreds of miles of Vermont ridgelines,” he says.
In comparison, Dr. Luce shows that the solar energy resource in these areas is a hundred times larger.
Luce discusses how solar power can be utilized along with energy storage and minimal back-up generation (also renewable) to meet demand. He demonstrates that solar has additional advantages over wind, such as fewer power lines and no fossil fuels for back-up generation.
Finally, Dr. Luce proves that the cost and cost-trend of solar is such that it has become an economically viable alternative to wind. Just in time for climate change mitigation and energy independence.
