The Dangerous Economist: Life is full of tradeoffs, west Texas wind power vs. the Air Force, landowners, ecotourists, astronomers, archeologists and conservationists

Tuesday, March 07, 2023

Life is full of tradeoffs, west Texas wind power vs. the Air Force, landowners, ecotourists, astronomers, archeologists and conservationists

If we want more wind power we might have to have less flying by the Air Force, fewer ecotourists, fewer birds, less archeological and astronomical knowledge, etc.

See Property owners, conservationists, wind energy: Tension grows in West Texas by Elena Bruess of The San Antonio Express-News. Excerpts:

"A Spain-based renewable-energy company plans to build another wind farm in Val Verde, this one on a 15,000-acre site on the other side of the county from the first wind farm. This time, however, the 46 turbines will be 700 feet tall — nearly the height of San Antonio’s Tower of the Americas — leaving ranchers, conservationists and landowners like [Dell] Dickinson saying they are alarmed over the impact the farm could have on ecotourism, wildlife, views of nature and historic art."

"For many, Val Verde County is an emblem of Texas’ natural beauty. The county is home to 47,500 people, with about 73 percent in the county seat, Del Rio. Imposing canyons, pristine rivers and rolling ranchland stretch for miles through undeveloped land and small towns. The Amistad Reservoir — which is the confluence of the Devils River, the Rio Grande and the Pecos River —has been an established national recreation area for over 50 years and the Devils River State Natural Area is home to crystal-clear waters and a famed stretch of rapids that lures in rafters from all over.
Many in Val Verde, say the new wind farm would be a blight on the natural ecosystem."
"Since plans for the Val Verde County wind farm were announced, the wind turbine count dropped from 59 to 46because of a compromise with nearby Laughlin Air Force Base. Military officials expressed concerns that the tall structures could interfere with flights.
Randy Nunns, a board member of the Devils River Conservancy in Val Verde, said he’s also been in communication with the company."

"The Devils River Conservancy, an organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the Devils River, has been at the forefront of the fight against the wind farm. The group’s members say their opposition has nothing to do with using renewable energy. Nunns, a lifelong conservationist, said he’s an advocate of moving to renewable energy in Texas. He just doesn’t see why the new wind farm has to be in this pristine, natural area.
“Not many people want to vacation in Odessa, Texas, but they want to vacation here,” he said. “People want to see nature in Big Bend, and it’s the same reason here.”
The Amistad National Recreation Area had more than 1 million visitors in 2020, according to the National Parks Service. The Devils River draws thousands of rafters every year, and the Devils River State Natural Area was among the first in the United States to receive the International Dark Sky Sanctuary designation, a public or private land that has an exceptional quality starry nights that is protected for its natural, educaitonal or scientific value."
"Beau Hester, park superintendent for the natural area, said he’s worried that the proposed wind farm could detract from the experience for visitors."
"In Comstock, a small town about 30 minutes from Del Rio, archaeologists say they are concerned about how wind turbines could affect their ability to study human human history.
The Shumla Archaeological Research and Education Center, housed in an old Border Patrol detention facility, is home to the research of 5,000-year-old rock art. Spread throughout Lower Pecos Canyonlands, ancient paintings tell the story of a people who lived in southern Texas long ago. Archaeologists have found about 360 rock-art paintings"
"Center officials say a wind farm could lead to more roads and more traffic, which will create more dust and vibrations. The vibrations from dynamiting the ground to install a wind turbine could damage the rock art at a nearby site."
"Conservationists also point to the impact wind farms can have on migration patterns for birds, bats and butterflies. Kerr Wardlaw, a sixth-generation rancher in Val Verde County, said the wind farms function almost like fences for some birds, preventing them from completing their migratory journey.
Every year, an estimated 140,000 to 500,000 birds die in the United States from crashing into wind turbines, according to the Audubon Society. While the group says it supports wind power and renewable energy, the organization advises federal, state and local planning agencies to incorporate wind energy in “low impact” areas and to consult with wildlife experts on placement."