RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSFORMING THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE IN AN ERA OF CLIMATE CHANGE: MON CO8

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1 RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSFORMING THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE IN AN ERA OF CLIMATE CHANGE: MON CO8 Presentation by John McCarty, Bureau of Land Management James Palmer, Scenic Quality Consultants Robert Sullivan, Argonne National Laboratory At the 50 year anniversary of President Johnson s White House Conference on Natural Beauty, climate change is driving the next major transformation of America s open spaces: the transition to the Renewable Energy Landscape. This session explores how best to balance renewable energy s many environmental benefits with its considerable scenic impacts. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Learn what s driving renewable energy development: balancing between energy demand, climate change, aesthetic/environmental tradeoffs Learn about addressing the aesthetic/environmental tradeoffs through building a landscape conservation and energy industry partnership, and the role landscape architects can play in this partnership. Obtain new information about the unique visual properties that make renewable energy facilities super impactors. Learn why cumulative visual impacts are a special problem for renewable energy and transmission. Learn about onsite and regional mitigation strategies that facilitate investment into key conservation priorities. Learn new ways for landscape architects to join the growing partnership in large landscape scale conservation. 1

INTRODUCTION Climate Change, Renewable Energy, & Environmental Tradeoffs Main drivers for

Consumption RE s environmental and health benefits No carbon dioxide No fuel extraction

wildlife Political and economic drivers Huge popular support for RE development worldwide

2 INTRODUCTION Climate Change, Renewable Energy, & Environmental Tradeoffs Main drivers for growth of renewable energy Climate change Increasing energy demand World Energy Consumption RE s environmental and health benefits No carbon dioxide No fuel extraction or consumption costs/impacts Minimal pollution Relatively easy on the land and on wildlife Political and economic drivers Huge popular support for RE development worldwide Political mandates for RE development Government subsidies Falling RE prices Updating transmission grid 2

Continued RE and transmission growth is inevitable Low oil and gas prices can slow renewable energy growth, but prices always go back up

load energy generation will shift to RE Photo: US News & World Report Biggest resource loser is scenic resources Large land requirements

represented in decisionmaking Values and impacts difficult to quantify monetarily Impacts accepted as unavoidable Lack of understanding

IMPACTORS Renewable Energy and Transmission Facilities Projects cover large areas Riverside East Solar Energy Zone, CA Onshore wind

3 Continued RE and transmission growth is inevitable Low oil and gas prices can slow renewable energy growth, but prices always go back up Increasing energy demand is inevitable Grid expansion/upgrade is inevitable Climate change impacts will increase As storage improves base load energy generation will shift to RE Photo: US News & World Report Biggest resource loser is scenic resources Large land requirements for RE facilities consumes huge amounts of land Large cumulative visual impacts No meaningful legal protection Poor advocacy, poorly represented in decisionmaking Values and impacts difficult to quantify monetarily Impacts accepted as unavoidable Lack of understanding of impacts and impact assessment Very few trained professionals Solar Energy Zone Potentially Affected view shed Rhode Island SUPER IMPACTORS Renewable Energy and Transmission Facilities Projects cover large areas Riverside East Solar Energy Zone, CA Onshore wind facilities can be up to 1,000 turbines on more than 200,000 acres Solar facilities up to several thousand acres Transmission lines hundreds of miles long 3

Structures can be very tall, and visually distinctive Offshore

tall Highly rectilinear, man made appearance Moving blades,

reflective Wind turbines white Solar facilities can cause

visible beyond 40 miles in western landscapes, strong

mi, strong contrast beyond 20 mi Offshore wind turbines

4 Structures can be very tall, and visually distinctive Offshore wind turbines more than 700 ft tall Power towers up to 800 ft tall Highly rectilinear, man made appearance Moving blades, changing colors Lighting at night Surfaces are often high reflective Wind turbines white Solar facilities can cause intense glare Visible for very long distances Wind turbines visible beyond 40 miles in western landscapes, strong contrasts beyond 15 mi Solar power towers easily visible at 35 mi, strong contrast beyond 20 mi Offshore wind turbines visible beyond 25 mi, strong contrasts beyond 10 mi Visible at same distances at night 4

Often sited in open landscapes Wind on plains and ridges Solar

visible far beyond the horizon THE RENEWABLE ENERGY LANDSCAPE

open landscape settings make RE and transmission important

Sequential views Environmental assessments typically emphasize

$and gas development (fracking), cell towers, biofuel plants$

5 Often sited in open landscapes Wind on plains and ridges Solar in wide flat valleys Transmission in both Off shore wind is visible far beyond the horizon THE RENEWABLE ENERGY LANDSCAPE Large project and structure size, long distance visibility, and open landscape settings make RE and transmission important sources of cumulative impacts Inter visibility of projects Sequential views Environmental assessments typically emphasize impact of the proposed project; cumulative impact assessments typically weak, visual impact assessments often cursory Also oil and gas development (fracking), cell towers, biofuel plants Photo by ffennema via istock 5

Quickly transforming large parts of the Midwest and West into renewable energy

landscapes (I 57, I 88, and I 65 corridors in Illinois and Indiana) The empty

character will change from pastoral/agricultural to industrial Perceptions of

Opposition to individual projects sometimes fierce, but often poorly organized

ecological impacts Opposition to individual projects largely from small groups of

bigger picture of cumulative visual impacts Few advocating for scenic resources

6 Quickly transforming large parts of the Midwest and West into renewable energy landscapes Affecting world class resources (National Parks) Affecting everyday landscapes (I 57, I 88, and I 65 corridors in Illinois and Indiana) The empty places that help define the American visual experience are disappearing Scenic character will change from pastoral/agricultural to industrial Perceptions of landscape values and functions will change Sense of place may be lost or changed Opposition to individual projects sometimes fierce, but often poorly organized and funded Major environmental organizations focused on wildlife and other ecological impacts Opposition to individual projects largely from small groups of affected individuals who are often marginalized as NIMBYs Few looking at the bigger picture of cumulative visual impacts Few advocating for scenic resources as a whole Result is trading off our scenic resources for the benefits of renewable and other forms of energy 6

RENEWABLE ENERGY SITING and MITIGATION Siting

the right places? What are the wrong places?

us Onsite mitigation Intelligent facility design and

in impact Regional offsite mitigation Identify nature

condition and trend toward decline, stability, or

Identify offsite mitigation opportunities and methods

7 RENEWABLE ENERGY SITING and MITIGATION Siting renewable energy facilities and transmission What are the right places? What are the wrong places? Photo: Onsite mitigation Intelligent facility design and materials choices At best, achieve minor reductions in impact Regional offsite mitigation Identify nature and extent of impacts Assess the current landscape condition and trend toward decline, stability, or enhancement Determine warrant for offsite mitigation Identify offsite mitigation opportunities and methods Use stakeholder input to help determine mitigation actions 7 Critical habitat (core sage grouse habitat)

New developments and Opportunities for Landscape Architects Secretarial Order 3330: Regional approach to landscape conservation Federal Agency Working Group developing regional mitigation guidelines

8 New developments and Opportunities for Landscape Architects Secretarial Order 3330: Regional approach to landscape conservation Federal Agency Working Group developing regional mitigation guidelines for offsite mitigation for scenic resource impacts. REFERENCES & RECOMMENDED READING Hernandez, Rebecca R. M., K. Hoacker, and C. B. Field Efficient use of land to meet sustainable energy needs. Nature Climate Change. DOI: /NCLIMATE2556 McCarty, J.H., R.G. Sullivan and H.M. Hartmann Where and how visual resources fit into the regional mitigation of onsite natural resource impacts. 39th Annual Conference, April 8 10, 2014, St. Petersburg, Fl. Publicover, D., A.K. D.K. and C. J. Poppenwimer Ridgeline Windpower Development in Maine: An Analysis of Potential Natural Resource Conflicts. Gorham, NH: Appalachian Mountain Club. Sheppard, Stephen R.J. Visualizing Climate Change: A Guide to Visual Communication of Climate Change and Developing Local Solutions. New York: Routledge, Sullivan, R.G., and Abplanalp, J. M. (2013). Utility Scale Solar Energy Facility Visual Impact Characterization and Mitigation: Project Final Report. Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Ill. Sullivan, R.G., and Abplanalp, J. M. (2015). Visibility and Visual Characteristics of the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System Power Tower Facility: Project Final Report. Argonne, IL: Argonne National Laboratory. Sullivan, R.G., Kirchler, L.B., Cothren, J., & Winters, S.L. (2013). Offshore wind turbine visibility and visual impact threshold distances. Environment Practice, 15(1), Sullivan, R.G., Kirchler, L.B., McCoy, C., McCarty, J., Beckman, K., & Richmond, P.D. (2012). Visual Impacts of Utility scale Solar Energy Facilities on Southwestern Desert Landscapes. Paper presented at the, National Association of Environmental Professionals, 37th Annual Conference, Portland, OR. 8

9 Sullivan, Robert G., J. M. Abplanalp, S. Lahti, S., K. J. Beckman, B. L. Cantwell, and P. Richmond. Electrical Transmission Visibility and Visual Contrast Threshold Distances in Western Landscapes. Argonne, IL: Argonne National Laboratory, Sullivan, R., L. Kirchler, S. Roché, K. Beckman, and P. Richmond, 2012, Wind Turbine Visibility and Visual Impact Threshold Distances in Western Landscapes. Proceedings, National Association of Environmental Professionals, 37th Annual Conference, May 21 24, 2012, Portland, OR. US Department of Energy Wind Vision: A New Era for Wind Power in the United States. US Department of the Interior Best Management Practices for Reducing Visual Impacts of Renewable Energy Facilities on BLM Administered Lands. Bureau of Land Management. Cheyenne, Wyoming 9

10 PRESENTER BIOS John McCarty, ASLA, Bureau of Land Management John McCarty, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Chief Landscape Architect oversees national visual resource management policy development, implementation, research, training, and field outreach. His work requires coordination across all BLM programs including the national renewable energy office and electric transmission facilities team. Other responsibilities include BLM s Backcountry Byways program, land use planning, and environmental design/built environment guidance. He joined the BLM in 2007 from the private sector where he consulted both the BLM and energy industry on visual design strategies and mitigation planning. John s 33 year career has centered on integrating the built environment with natural settings through seamless transitions. James Palmer, FASLA, Scenic Quality Consultants Dr. James Palmer has had a distinguished professional career in landscape architecture spanning 40 years, focusing on the assessment of landscape character and aesthetic quality. Jim is among a handful of research landscape architects whose expertise has led the way in informing our scientific understanding of visual impacts, community landscape values, and other landscape aesthetics issues. Jim is the principal at Scenic Quality Consultants and Professor Emeritus at SUNY ESF. He serves as Maine s scenic expert evaluating visual impact assessments that have been completed for wind energy projects for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Robert Sullivan, Argonne National Laboratory Robert Sullivan is an Environmental Scientist in the Environmental Science Division of Argonne National Laboratory, where he conducts research on the scenic impacts of utilityscale energy facilities and conducts environmental impact assessments for federal energy programs and projects, including solar, onshore and offshore wind, energy transmission, and hydropower programs. Current projects include development of methodologies for geospatial analysis of environmental impacts of wind energy development, development of a scenic resource inventory system for the National Park Service, application of regional offsite mitigation for visual impacts of solar energy development, and modeling human dimensions of landscape management and land use planning. 10

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