The placement of turbines and their access roads are two areas of concern to landowners as discussions about wind energy projects begin. In light of these concerns, we would like to offer some valuable insight into the processes that dictate how roads and turbines are placed and the considerations that NECO Wind takes in making these important decisions.
The most crucial aspect of designing an effective wind farm lies in the appropriate placement of the turbines that will generate the project’s electricity. There is a vast array of data that must be analyzed before this can take place to ensure that the wind farm is as safe and efficient as possible. National Wind Assessments, located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, analyzes data on migratory bird patterns, natural resources, terrain elevations, and wind patterns measured from a meteorological (met) tower over the span of about one year to calculate appropriate placing. NECO constructed a meteorological tower which began gathering wind data in September of 2008 which will be able to determine how to best utilize the area’s wind values. In April of this year NECO also installed a met tower in the Haxtun footprint.
Once data has been gathered and scrutinized, turbine types and models can be selected and their placement determined. A number of setbacks are then taken into account that maximizes safety and efficiency. Turbines must be spaced far enough apart from each other, usually around ¼ mile, to prevent turbulence from interfering with other turbines nearby. To account for safety and noise concerns, turbines must follow certain state and/or county ordinances. Some of Colorado’s county regulations stipulate that turbines must be placed at least 450 feet away from roads and transmission lines.
NECO Wind’s setbacks may surpass those established by the counties in the footprint. “In most instances, National Wind Assessments recommend setbacks that exceed the state and county ordinances to maximize both safety and the quality of life for residents in the area,” says Kevin Romuld, President of National Wind Assessments. “We strive to set standards of excellence in our projects so it’s important for us to go above and beyond in terms of setback policies. This ensures a minimal impact on everyday life.”
Roads in the footprint follow this minimal impact approach as well. During the construction process, roads to turbine sites need to accommodate heavy machinery and the cranes that will lift the wind towers and turbines into place. The wear and tear of this process is repaired by the developing company and often means that roads are left in better shape than before construction began. Access roads to the turbines themselves are narrow and usually run along property lines. We make every effort to ensure that properties that do not receive a turbine will not have access roads running across them.
“In every regard, we proceed carefully and listen to any concerns the landowners might have,” says Scott Hafner, one of the developers involved with the NECO project. “Oftentimes, what works best for landowners works best for our project.”
