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
comments on draft and final
documents

Photo credit: Bonnie Ram

Offshore sites and marine spatial

planning
The sea is owned by the
nation and the public
Many stakeholders, e.g.,
Shipping companies
Fishery managers
Marine mammal advocates
Coastal residents
Recreational boaters

DONG Energy. Anholt offshore wind site

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