Wind Power Environmental Shadow Flicker Analysis Evaluation

Two industrial wind turbine farms proposed for the town of Cohocton, NY will permanently alter the town. The large blades on MW scale turbines can at certain times produce moving shadows on the landscape or create distracting flicker on the scenery. To capture the wind these turbines are to be installed on hilltops around the town and thus have significant potential to create a shadow flicker nuisance at great distances from the turbines. All environmental effects of projects require consideration and possible mitigation. Site selection is important since wind turbines are a permanent installation and may significantly impair resident's enjoyment of neighboring lands or even personal health.

Large scale shadow flicker is a new phenomenon, not experienced by people on an "industrial scale", with football field sized shadows moving across their home or through their local views. As a new sources of environmental pollution extra care is needed when evaluating the long term consequences.

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