I like all your questions but of particular interest to me are the ones regarding the effect on the local environment. Is the benefit truely greater than any negatives that would apply to the wildlife, flora, farming? Are there negatives to the hydrosphere? Your #3 was similar to one of my questions. I think all the questions are important to whether or not a wind farm is a good idea for an area both economically and environmentally.
I would really like to know the answer to #7, although I think the Wind Farms revenue would be greater or the farmers wouldn't allow them to be built on their land.
Kathy, Love all your questions! #5 is very interesting, as is #9. Never thought about the safety regulations but I'm sure that the government has them established!
Questions for my scenario: E>A: Will there actually be increased air currents/turbulence beyond what 'natural' wind would be? Would they 'cool' the immediate area any?
E>L: Do the massive structures require a certain type of earth/rock to stabilize securely? Will there have to be modifications to the lithosphere when the site is chosen?
E>H: Does the wind farm need to be placed away from flood planes, lakes, rivers and streams? Would the evaporation from nearby water sources affect their operation?
E>B: Would the placement of the wind farm disrupt local wildlife and flora? Would the placement disrupt local farming and cause a hardship? How big is a typical wind farm (size in acreage)?
E>A>B: How will the creation of turbine currents and turbulence affect the local wildlife, particularly the birds and insects? Are there any endangered species in the area?
E>A>H>B: Does the increased wind activity increase the evaporation of nearby water thus decreasing the supply for local wildlife and flora? Does the constuction of the farm disrupt local wildlife and flora?
I never would have thought that wind farms would have much of an effect on the hydrosphere and the atmosphere. I will be curious to see what you find out!!
Are those the questions each of you are planning to research? If so, that's great. It looks like there are some similarities between some of your questions, but that's actually good--more information likely to be found. You can use the resources from the scenario website, or find your own--just be sure to save your resources as references. :) Looking good!
ESSEA Research Questions: Scenario: Wind farm construction and operation on the KS prairie Focus Question: Do the environmental impacts of construction and operation of a KS wind farm outweigh the benefits of the clean energy production? Research Questions: 1. What are the pre-construction costs to the environment for the creation of wind farm components (turbines, etc.) 2. How many acres are utilized (on average) for a wind farm? 3. What type of regulations govern where wind farms can be placed? 4. How long does it take the prairie ecosystem to recover from wind farm construction? 5. What are the effects of the wind turbines on wildlife...specifically migratory birds? 6. Does the wind farm have any effect on the atmosphere or weather patterns? 7. Where is the energy from our local (KS) wind farms being consumed? 8. To what degree will wind energy be able to replace fossil fuels? 9. What effect do the turbines have on local human activities (farming, homes, etc.)?
For my research I would like to compare the production of wind energy with petroleum energy. These are some questions: 1. What are the effects to the lithosphere of drilling for oil and erecting wind turbines? 2. How much water is used to drill an oil well, where does it come from, what happens to it when they are finished? 3. Is there any water use associated with wind farms? 4. How do oil wells and wind farms effect local wildlife populations? 5. How are land owners compensated for the use of their land for oil wells and/or wind farms? 6. How do the costs of the two systems compare when purchasing electricity? 7. How big a piece of the energy puzzle can we expect wind farms to produce? 8. What is the long-term sustainability of a wind turbine?
Research Questions 1) I would like to know how a wind farm site is selected. What factors besides the wind patterns are taken into consideration? 2) Once a site is selected how long does it take to get the turbines up and going? What all is involved in this process? 3) What environmental studies are done before, during, and after construction of a wind farm? 4) Once the wind farm is built how it is maintained, who maintains it, and what is its expected lifespan? 5) Where does the energy produced go? Who uses it and how much does it decrease the dependency on traditional energy sources? 6) What is the impact of wind farms on communities? Do they really create jobs? Do they benefit farmers and ranchers? Do they benefit the local economy? Do they decrease energy costs?
Questions - What are the specifications/guidelines for a site of a wind farm and who conducts it then ultimately approves the location? Are there minimums and maximums regarding numbers of turbines for personal ownership, or is it simply how much you can afford to invest? What is the life expectancy of the equipment used to building the turbines? What is the upfront cost of a turbine without governmental assistance? Can any available government incentives be granted multiple years in a row or can you only apply for the assistance once (like the energy credit for your house)? How do you resell energy to the grid? Is somebody working on a way to store energy? Can a turbine go too fast resulting in damage to the equipment, ultimately resulting in damage to the surrounding hydrosphere, lithosphere, and/or biosphere? Regulations for in-town placement of turbines in relation to out of town placement? What are the factors for why towns can/cannot have farms in city limits?
Questions for my scenario:
ReplyDelete1. How long before the land supporting a wind farms returns to its natural state after the building?
2. Do wind farms have any negative effects to the hydrosphere?
3. Do wind generators cause the atmospheric temperature to drop because of the increased movement of wind?
4. Are there any negative effects to our atomsphere in building windfarms?
5. Can the area supporting windfarms still support wildlife?
6. How many windfarms are needed to replace fossil fuels?
7. Does the noise pollution cause migratory birds and other animals to change their routes?
8. How many years before the cost implemented is less than the cost gained?
9. How large is a typical windfarm and how much energy do they produce?
10. What percent of Kansas is acceptable locations for windfarms?
I like all your questions but of particular interest to me are the ones regarding the effect on the local environment. Is the benefit truely greater than any negatives that would apply to the wildlife, flora, farming? Are there negatives to the hydrosphere? Your #3 was similar to one of my questions. I think all the questions are important to whether or not a wind farm is a good idea for an area both economically and environmentally.
DeleteThis are all pertinent questions, Rhonda. I have some of the same ones
DeleteI am planning on researching all of my questions.
DeleteRhonda, I am also very interested in how wind farms compare to fossil fuels, the cost of them, and the space they take up.
DeleteQuestions for my scenario:
ReplyDelete1. Does the turning of turbines have an affect on the natural air flow in the areas that they are located?
2. Does the increase of air movement caused by turning turbines affect the evaporation processes in the area that turbines are located?
3. Is the land where the Wind Farm is located geologically stable enough to support large structures such as turbines?
4. Would the natural habitat on the Kansas praires be affected by the Wind Farm? Would their food source be destroyed?
5. How much would wind turbines effect wild life in and around wind farms because of a decrease in their water supply?
6. Would turbines have an impact on migration routes of certain migratory birds because of turbulence and increased wind?
7. What would the economic difference be of revenue generated from Wind Farms vs. revenue generated from farmable land?
8. What is the average acreage needed for a Wind Farm?
9. What kind of safety regulations are needed in and around a Wind Farm?
I would really like to know the answer to #7, although I think the Wind Farms revenue would be greater or the farmers wouldn't allow them to be built on their land.
DeleteKathy,
DeleteLove all your questions! #5 is very interesting, as is #9. Never thought about the safety regulations but I'm sure that the government has them established!
I am going to reply to each one of my questions.
DeleteQuestions for my scenario:
ReplyDeleteE>A: Will there actually be increased air currents/turbulence beyond what 'natural' wind would be? Would they 'cool' the immediate area any?
E>L: Do the massive structures require a certain type of earth/rock to stabilize securely? Will there have to be modifications to the lithosphere when the site is chosen?
E>H: Does the wind farm need to be placed away from flood planes, lakes, rivers and streams? Would the evaporation from nearby water sources affect their operation?
E>B: Would the placement of the wind farm disrupt local wildlife and flora? Would the placement disrupt local farming and cause a hardship? How big is a typical wind farm (size in acreage)?
E>A>B: How will the creation of turbine currents and turbulence affect the local wildlife, particularly the birds and insects? Are there any endangered species in the area?
E>A>H>B: Does the increased wind activity increase the evaporation of nearby water thus decreasing the supply for local wildlife and flora? Does the constuction of the farm disrupt local wildlife and flora?
I'm particularly interested in the affects of the wildlife around wind turbines, also. Good questions, Cyn.
DeleteI never would have thought that wind farms would have much of an effect on the hydrosphere and the atmosphere. I will be curious to see what you find out!!
DeleteAre those the questions each of you are planning to research? If so, that's great. It looks like there are some similarities between some of your questions, but that's actually good--more information likely to be found. You can use the resources from the scenario website, or find your own--just be sure to save your resources as references. :) Looking good!
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting us know that we are on the right track! ~ Kathy, Cynthia and Rhonda
DeleteJenny,
DeleteI'm planning to focus primarily on the environmental effects to flora and fauna questions. Thanks for the reminder to save the resources!
ESSEA Research Questions:
ReplyDeleteScenario: Wind farm construction and operation on the KS prairie
Focus Question: Do the environmental impacts of construction and operation of a KS wind farm outweigh the benefits of the clean energy production?
Research Questions:
1. What are the pre-construction costs to the environment for the creation of wind farm components (turbines, etc.)
2. How many acres are utilized (on average) for a wind farm?
3. What type of regulations govern where wind farms can be placed?
4. How long does it take the prairie ecosystem to recover from wind farm construction?
5. What are the effects of the wind turbines on wildlife...specifically migratory birds?
6. Does the wind farm have any effect on the atmosphere or weather patterns?
7. Where is the energy from our local (KS) wind farms being consumed?
8. To what degree will wind energy be able to replace fossil fuels?
9. What effect do the turbines have on local human activities (farming, homes, etc.)?
Laurie,
DeleteI lean more toward economic questions, too. Your questions 1-4 are particularly interesting to me.
Carlotta
Great questions to get you started!
ReplyDeleteFor my research I would like to compare the production of wind energy with petroleum energy. These are some questions:
ReplyDelete1. What are the effects to the lithosphere of drilling for oil and erecting wind turbines?
2. How much water is used to drill an oil well, where does it come from, what happens to it when they are finished?
3. Is there any water use associated with wind farms?
4. How do oil wells and wind farms effect local wildlife populations?
5. How are land owners compensated for the use of their land for oil wells and/or wind farms?
6. How do the costs of the two systems compare when purchasing electricity?
7. How big a piece of the energy puzzle can we expect wind farms to produce?
8. What is the long-term sustainability of a wind turbine?
I want to see your answer for #6. A cost comparison would probably be the deciding factor for many people when it comes to determining affordability.
DeleteResearch Questions
ReplyDelete1) I would like to know how a wind farm site is selected. What factors besides the wind patterns are taken into consideration?
2) Once a site is selected how long does it take to get the turbines up and going? What all is involved in this process?
3) What environmental studies are done before, during, and after construction of a wind farm?
4) Once the wind farm is built how it is maintained, who maintains it, and what is its expected lifespan?
5) Where does the energy produced go? Who uses it and how much does it decrease the dependency on traditional energy sources?
6) What is the impact of wind farms on communities? Do they really create jobs? Do they benefit farmers and ranchers? Do they benefit the local economy? Do they decrease energy costs?
Questions -
ReplyDeleteWhat are the specifications/guidelines for a site of a wind farm and who conducts it then ultimately approves the location?
Are there minimums and maximums regarding numbers of turbines for personal ownership, or is it simply how much you can afford to invest?
What is the life expectancy of the equipment used to building the turbines?
What is the upfront cost of a turbine without governmental assistance?
Can any available government incentives be granted multiple years in a row or can you only apply for the assistance once (like the energy credit for your house)?
How do you resell energy to the grid?
Is somebody working on a way to store energy?
Can a turbine go too fast resulting in damage to the equipment, ultimately resulting in damage to the surrounding hydrosphere, lithosphere, and/or biosphere?
Regulations for in-town placement of turbines in relation to out of town placement? What are the factors for why towns can/cannot have farms in city limits?