Siting challenges and

stakeholder involvement

Bonnie Ram
Learning objectives
After this lecture you will be able to:

• Explain the purpose of an Environmental

Impact Assessment (EIA)
• List some of the issues that get
addressed in an EIA
• Name several types of stakeholders
• List some values that underlie
stakeholder concerns and may not be
addressed in an EIA

Photo credit: Bonnie Ram

Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA) Process
• Preparing an environmental document is a required process
(for most wind siting decisions)

• What is the purpose?

1. Evaluating potential benefits and risks:

• Social, economic, and environmental effects
• Covers all phases of the project:
– Planning, construction, operation,
decommissioning
Environmental Impact Assessment
(continued)

2. Involving stakeholders and the

public
• Defining the scope of the
proposed project

• Public hearings:
 Listening to stakeholders
and public concerns
 Incorporating citizen
Photo credit: Bonnie Ram
comments on draft and final
documents
 Offshore sites and marine spatial
planning
• The sea is ”owned” by the
nation and the public
• Many stakeholders, e.g.,
– Shipping companies
– Fishery managers
DONG Energy. Anholt offshore wind site
– Marine mammal advocates
– Coastal residents
– Recreational boaters

Photo credit: Bonnie Ram

 Potential noise impacts and
communities
• Various models are used
• Involves rules for set-backs

• Potential ”noise sensitive

areas” are measured in
decibels (dB)

• The decibel is commonly

used in acoustics as a unit
of sound pressure level
Source: EMD Noise calculation using WindPRO model. 2007
Shipping lanes and stakeholders
• Part of the EIA process
• Negotiating with
shipping regulators
• Safety objectives
• Routes:
• Ferry traffic
• Commercial shipping
• Possible compensation
and siting limitations
Source: Anholt EIA
Land-based wind and siting challenges

Usually not be addressed in an EIA

•Community involvement (2-ways) is very important

•Close to homes and businesses
•Sense of place and community

• Distribution of benefits and

risks
• Ownership of turbines, e.g.,
cooperatives
• Who has a stake? Photo credit: Bonnie Ram
Types of stakeholders
• Local citizens
• Local politicians
• Utilities
• Universities
• Industry
• Fishers
• Financing institutions
• Scientists & engineers
• NGOs
• Consumer associations
• Trade unions, etc. Photo credit: Bonnie Ram
Values underlie stakeholder concerns
Not typically addressed in an EIA

• Ocean horizon and aesthetics

• Equality and Equity
• Protection of nature
• Sense of place
• Social trust of government and
developers
• Energy efficiency
• Protection of future generations
Photo credit: Bonnie Ram
Summary
In this lecture you have learnt:

• The purpose of the EIA is twofold:

1. Evaluating potential risks and benefits for all phases of
the project
2. Involving local citizens and stakeholders

• Some issues that get addressed in an EIA, e.g., shipping

lanes, noise effects
Summary
In this lecture you have learnt:

• There are many different kinds of stakeholders

• Some of the values that underlie stakeholder views and

may not get addressed in an EIA
–The need for wind, i.e., ”protection for future
generations” and how this relates to the urgencies for
energy efficiency and climate change