Geographic context affects the landscape change and fragmentation caused by wind energy facilities.

Jay E Diffendorfer,Jolene R Keen,Louisa A Kramer,Robert V Taylor,Monica A Dorning

doi:10.7717/peerj.7129

Jay E Diffendorfer, Jolene R Keen + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7129

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Abstract

Wind energy generation affects landscapes as new roads, pads, and transmission lines are constructed. Limiting the landscape change from these facilities likely minimizes impacts to biodiversity and sensitive wildlife species. We examined the effects of wind energy facilities’ geographic context on changes in landscape patterns using three metrics: portion of undeveloped land, core area index, and connectance index. We digitized 39 wind facilities and the surrounding land cover and measured landscape pattern before and after facility construction using the amount, core area, and connectivity of undeveloped land within one km around newly constructed turbines and roads. New facilities decreased the amount of undeveloped land by 1.8% while changes in metrics of landscape pattern ranged from 50 to 140%. Statistical models indicated pre-construction development was a key factor explaining the impact of new wind facilities on landscape metrics, with pre-construction road networks, turbine spacing, and topography having smaller influences. As the proportion of developed land around facilities increased, a higher proportion of the facility utilized pre-construction developed land and a lower density of new roads were built, resulting in smaller impacts to undeveloped landscapes. Building of new road networks was also a predictor of landscape fragmentation. Utilizing existing development and carefully placing turbines may provide opportunities to minimize the impacts of new wind energy facilities.

Highlights

Generating electricity from wind is a leading technology for meeting energy demand while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution
We investigated how new wind facilities affect the loss and fragmentation of undeveloped lands with a focus on the new roads built during construction
Pre-construction, sites had an average of 2,355.07 ± 369.47 ha of undeveloped land, which was reduced to 2294.17 ± 359.54 ha after construction, with a mean percent decrease across facilities of −1.89%

Summary

Introduction

Generating electricity from wind is a leading technology for meeting energy demand while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. The global installed capacity of wind energy reached 539 GW by the end of 2017 (World Wind Energy Association, 2018) and forecasts suggest continued growth and market penetration doubling to quadrupling levels of installed onshore wind energy in the 20 to 30 years (Hand et al, 2012; US Energy Information Administration, 2015; International Energy Agency, 2016). The International Energy Agency (2016) suggests the installed capacity of wind energy will grow. Geographic context affects the landscape change and fragmentation caused by wind energy facilities. While increasing wind energy generation may reduce emissions, it will result in landscape change associated with developing new facilities, having potentially negative effects on wildlife and other ecosystem functions

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