INTERVIEW

I interviewed my aunt Kim Payne, she is a scientist/biologist for an environmental consulting company.

What are the affects of offshore wind turbines on the marine life?
The new scientific community doesn't know for sure how the installation of offshore wind turbines affect the environment. There is a potential for a disruption to migratory fish and lobsters. Also Eco sounding whales could be disturbed by the underground cables that connect each wind turbine to each other and to the power grid onshore.
There are different models of turbine anchors; some are installed like a fence post, others have 4 smaller supportive legs off the main post.
There are some benefits to installing turbines offshore. Besides the energy they produce, after a while the post become covered in growth, like anything else left in the water or a long period of time. This growth can provide additional food and shelter for organisms in need around the turbines.
What are the environmental affects of wind turbines in Maine?
When wind farms are installed on shore in Maine, there is a significant environmental footprint. There has to be roads built and maintained up to the turbines, which are mostly on ridge tops. The initial construction of he turbines can be damaging to the environment around, and the footprints of the turbines can destroy the vegetation and habitats of animals.
The parts for the wind turbines are shipped here, which uses oil.
When scientist are planning the placement of a wind farm, there are lots of factors to consider. Shallow water or deep water? Aunt Kim says deep water because shallow water is generally a nursery for young fish and crustaceans. Shallow water is more protected and is a dynamic habitat.
Maine has some strict rules regarding where turbines can and cannot be put. They can't be installed in an area that is known as a deer yard, they cannot be on any sort of migration route for birds, fish, whales, or bats. They also can't be in a wetland or fragile area.
We have more rules about this than Europe does, this is could be one reason why they are so far ahead of us.
One of the symptoms that can occur from"not in my back yard syndrome" is the flicker affect. This is when the sun or light behind the turning wind turbine creates an annoying flickering. It can agitate people in the area has apparently cause complaints.
Despite that, Maine is one of the most dependant states. The majority of our energy comes from oil from other states! Needless to say, this needs to change. If we started doing more with wind and/or solar power, Maine could see some big positive changes.

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Reported by The Guardian Newspaper, the weather in Spain has been particularly windy. This is a good thing. This wind has produced enough electricity for 40 percent of the country !!! Because of this recent spike in extra breezy days, Spain is now the 4th leading country in the world. The United States is first in producing wind energy but the amount we produce doesn't nearly add up to the amount we need.

Final FOCUS; further research needed

When I wrote my essay lots of new questions emerged, as you may have noticed if you read it. Questions to do with the financial aspect of wind power, because that is what hold a lot of people back. Why is it so expensive? How can costs be brought down? I also have lots of questions about the placement of turbines. I would say the second most common reason wind power isn't utilized in a lot of communities is the noise. Also there has always been the crippling 'not in my back yard' syndrome that prevents the progression of alternative energy. My knowledge has been integrated into my thinking and I think I am able to develop my thoughts with a mild amount of depth.
The final focus of my topic will be; how to get wind turbines into residential areas and what kind of funding is available for places like schools, hospitals or non profits that are looking into alternative power. To draw final conclusions I need to be more specific about the choosing of my articles, researching what it is that I want to know about, about my topic will make the process more enjoyable.
For my oral presentation, I will most likely create some kind of visual or diagram to show the class maybe how wind power works, or how a wind farm could benefit a community.