Wind power is welcomed by farmers and ranchers in the Great Plains for the income and economic activity it brings, but it has made much slower progress in the densely populated Northeast. Here, residents often object to wind turbines disrupting their views of formerly pristine ridge-lines, and offshore wind runs into objections from politically powerful owners of beachfront property.
A new study out of Stanford University published in Nature Climate Change found that a series of commercially available offshore wind turbines spaced evenly at about four per mile of coastline would have significantly reduced wind speeds and storm surge from Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina. Wind speeds would have been cut by up to 65 miles per hour or 50% in places, while storm surge would have been reduced between 12% and 72%.
The scientists conclude that “Replacing fossil fuels with offshore turbines reduces hurricane damage and the need for sea walls, but (it) also (reduces) air pollution and global warming and provides electric power with zero fuel cost.”
Owners of shoreline villas now callingout for protective barriers after Hurricane Sandy should reconsider their opposition and give offshore wind another look. Wind provides several benefits, while barriers block the views, and merely shift damage from one section of coastline to another.
Moreover, barriers do nothing for the region’s electricity prices, which are among the highest in the country.
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— This segment was contributed by Tom Konrad Ph.D. CFA. Tom also writes about green investing for Forbes.
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Photo, posted September 6, 2005, courtesy of Stephen Gore via Flickr.
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Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Support for Earth Wise comes from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY.