Considerations for Wind Siting Guidelines

Volume I Chapter 1. Wind Energy Rhode Island Renewable Energy Siting Partnership  Bird or Bat Mortality- In areas where bird or bat mortality is a concern, post construction monitoring may be useful to gauge the severity of this impact. Paton et al. 2012 in Volume II of the RESP document provides greater detail on when monitoring may be appropriate and what methodology can be used to most effectively assess a project’s impact to birds and bats.

6.3.2 Considerations for Wind Siting Guidelines

Creating statewide guidelines and recommended setbacks related to the potential effects of land-based wind energy development Ch. 1 Table 19 is challenging as each city and town in Rhode Island is unique. In addition, in some cases guidelines such as noise and shadow flicker impacts are quality of life issues, not solely based on scientific findings but also on the best judgment of a municipality. Moving forward, as the “Renewable Energy Siting Guidelines, Part 1: Interim Siting Factors for Ter restrial Wind Energy Systems” produced by the Statewide Planning Program’s Wind Energy Siting Working Group are examined further the following siting considerations in Ch. 1 Table 20 may be useful. Page 172 Volume I Rhode Island Renewable Energy Siting Partnership Chapter1. Wind Energy Ch. 1 Table 20. List of Siting and Mitigation Options to Minimize Impact of Land-Based Wind Energy Development Impacts or Issues Options to Minimize Impacts of Wind Energy Development Siting Mitigation Structural Failure  Setbacks from residential homes, roads, or other buildings and infrastructure  Setbacks may include a set minimum distance or a distance based on the height of the turbine  Safety system to monitor turbine operations and alert when possible malfunctions  Safety shutdown procedures Icing  Setbacks from residential homes, roads, or other buildings and infrastructure  Setbacks may include a set minimum distance or a distance based on the height of the turbine  Safety shutdown procedures  Ice detection mechanisms Shadow Flicker  Shadow flicker analysis of proposed site to determine shadow flicker effects on adjacent properties  Predictive model at RIEnergy.org can be used to map impact zones  Establish a maximum number of hours per day andor hours per year in which a wind turbine is allowed to produce shadow flicker. When setting limits however, it is important to define how flicker impacts will be measured e.g. at property line? On adjacent building, road, etc.?  Turbine shut down once the maximum shadow flicker per day or year has been reached  Landscaping to block flicker on surrounding properties i.e. trees, shrubs, walls  Light blocking shades to potentially affected residents Electromagnetic Signal Interference  Siting of wind turbines to avoid sight lines of affected technologies  Review of communication towers in the area to ensure no sight lines are being blocked Acoustic Impacts  Model acoustic impacts of the installed technology based on turbine specifications and ambient noise levels at the proposed site to assure noise impacts do not have significant adverse impact on neighbors or adjacent land users.  Municipalities with preexisting noise ordinances my require installed to comply with regulations already in place, unless waived by the municipality on a case-by-case basis  Set a maximum acceptable decibel level, or change above ambient noise levels and require wind turbine to cease operations if that level is exceeded.  Require wind turbine to cease operations if that level is exceeded. Page 173 Volume I Rhode Island Renewable Energy Siting Partnership Chapter1. Wind Energy Impacts or Issues Options to Minimize Impacts of Wind Energy Development Siting Mitigation Avian and Bat Impacts  Environmental assessment performed by third party of surrounding habitat and species present  Avoidance or setbacks around known nests andor key habitats, particularly those used by endangered or threatened species  Following the guidance provided in Paton et al. 2012 Volume II and the USFWS guidelines for siting and monitoring avian impacts  Shut down of turbine or raising the cut-in speed during periods of migration through the area  Altering turbine coloring or lighting to lessen the attraction of birds Cultural and Historic Impacts  Consultation with the Rhode Island Historical Preservation Heritage Commission is required for projects funded by federal, state, or local funding or if they require state or federal permits. Projects which are entirely private undertakings are not subject to review unless a federal or state permit or license is required. Consultation and review will determine whether the proposed project will harm a resource which is on or eligible for the National Historic Register. Visual Impacts  Visual impact assessment and simulations  Community input on the visual impacts using simulations Property Value Impacts  Use of safety setbacks or limits on noise and shadow flicker will help minimize any property value impacts  Compensation of property owners if negative property value impact is determined Page 174 Volume I Chapter 1. Wind Energy Rhode Island Renewable Energy Siting Partnership

6.3.3 Municipal Wind Ordinances