The Negative Environmental Externalities of Wind Farms

 The Negative Environmental Externalities of Wind Farms

The negative impact of wind farms on an ecosystem, landscape, and biodiversity are externalities. The more common negative externalities of wind power projects are visual and noise effects and the impact on birds. 

Brennan & Van Rensburg (2016) estimated a willingness to accept the negative impacts of wind farms in Ireland. Most survey respondents showed a willingness to accept the negative externalities of wind farms for some monetary compensation (Brennan & Van Rensburg 2016). 

Mattmann et al. (2016) conducted a quantitative non-market valuation meta-analysis of wind power externalities based on a data set of 60 observations drawn from 32 studies. The analysis states the importance of visual effects for wind power acceptance. However, the negative impacts of wind power projects on biodiversity are not significant in welfare measures (Mattmann et al. 2015). 

Bird mortality due to wind turbines in the US is estimated at 0.003 percent of total annual bird mortality from anthropogenic sources (Erickson et al. 2005). 

Wind farms have relatively lower negative environmental externalities in comparison with conventional energy sources.

References 

Brennan, N. & Van Rensburg, T.M., 2016. Wind farm externalities and public preferences for community consultation in Ireland: A discrete choice experiments approach. Energy Policy, 94, pp.355–365.

Erickson, W.P., Johnson, G.D., and David Jr, P., 2005. A summary and comparison of bird mortality from anthropogenic causes with an emphasis on collisions. In: Ralph, C. John; Rich, Terrell D., editors 2005. Bird Conservation Implementation and Integration in the Americas: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference. 2002 March 20-24; Asilomar, California, Volume 2 Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-191. Albany, CA: US Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: Vol. 191, p. 1029-1042. 

Mattmann, M., Logar, I. & Brouwer, R. 2016. Wind power externalities: A meta-analysis. Ecological Economics, 127, pp.23–36.