Harnessing the Wind
of the South Texas
Gulf Coast
Agenda
• Background on Babcock & Brown
• Why We Chose The Kenedy Ranch Location
• Environmental Benefits
• Economic Regional Benefits
• Overview of Project Environmental Work
2
Babcock & Brown: A Leader in Wind Energy
• One of the largest owners and operators of wind projects in the world
• Founded in 1977 in California
• 20 years of experience in wind energy
• Strong reputation for developing successful wind farms
• Partner for the long term - we develop, own, operate, and manage
Photo courtesy of Mortenson
3
Photo courtesy of Mortenson
Babcock & Brown Project Locations – Operational and
Under Construction or In Development
Combine Hills
White Twin Creeks
Wessington Springs
Lancaster
Hatchet Ridge
Pomeroy
Buena Vista
Cedar Creek I-II
Spring Valley
Tres Vaqueros
Kumeyaay
Caprock
Blue Canyon Wind
Panhandle/Majestic
Cholla Wind
Sweetwater I-V
South Trent
Operational
Under Construction /
In Development
4
Crescent Ridge
Post Rock
Red Hills
Wildhorse
Rock Creek
Aragonne I-II
Gulf Wind I
GSG
Ecogen
Bear Creek
Rock
Allegheny II-III
Jersey Atlantic
Run Allegheny I
Minonk
Bald Knob
Bluewater
El Paso
(Offshore)
Mendota Hills
Why the Kenedy Ranch?
Powerful Renewable Resource for South Texas
• Highest wind speeds along
the entire Gulf of Mexico
• Three meteorological towers
have been in place since
2004
• SODAR was used for over a
year to determine the site’s
shear profile
Kenedy Wind Farm
6
Producing Power When It’s Needed Most
Annual ERCOT Hourly Avg Load vs Kenedy Hourly Avg
Capacity Factor (CF)
Annual ERCOT Hourly Avg Load vs West TX Avg Hourly
Capacity Factor (CF)
40,000
70.00%
40,000
35,000
60.00%
35,000
30,000
60.00%
50.00%
30,000
50.00%
40.00%
25,000
25,000
30.00%
20,000
30.00%
15,000
15,000
20.00%
20.00%
10,000
Kenedy wind power
production is complimentary
to serving ERCOT load during
on peak periods.
5,000
0
10.00%
0.00%
West TX wind power
production is not
complimentary to serving
ERCOT load during on peak
periods.
5,000
0
0.00%
Super Peak
Hour
On Peak
10.00%
2300
2200
2100
2000
1900
1800
1700
1600
1500
1400
1300
1200
1100
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
2300
2200
2100
2000
1900
1800
1700
1600
1500
1400
1300
1200
1100
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Super Peak
10,000
Hour
On Peak
ERCOT Avg Load
Kenedy Avg CF
ERCOT Avg Load
West TX Avg CF
The Texas Southern coast’s peak production occurs when energy demand is the greatest, making
Kenedy an ideal candidate for wind development.
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CF
20,000
MW
CF
MW
40.00%
Gulf Wind Project Overview
• Project area: 7,851 acres
• Affected surface area: less than 300 acres
• Turbines: 118, each 2.4-MW capacity
• Project capacity: 283.2 MW
• Power equivalent: nearly 80,000 Texas homes
• Distance from Gulf of Mexico to nearest turbine: 8.1 miles
• Distance from Laguna Madre to nearest turbine: 5 miles
• Distance from Hwy 77 to nearest turbine: 12.5 miles
• Distance to nearest property line: 5.2 miles
8
9
Environmental Benefits
of Gulf Wind Project
Pollution Problems in Texas
• 2/3 of all Texans live in areas that fail to meet EPA’s minimum health-based
air quality standards
• Soot from power plants causes each year:
–
1,160 premature deaths
–
1, 791 heart attacks
–
33,987 asthma attacks annually
• 329,784 acres of Texas lakes have contaminated fish due to mercury
pollution from coal plants
–
The entire Gulf of Mexico has an advisory for king mackerel due to the risks of
mercury contamination
• Texas releases more global warming gases than any other state – if we were
our own country, we would rank 8th in the world
Sources: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Clear the Air, Environmental Defense, Public Citizen
11
Global Warming Threat to Texas
• Rising sea levels of three feet – as
scientists predict – will cause South Padre
Island to be lost, threatening survival of
species relying on coastal ecosystems
• Increased coastal erosion endangers
marine ecosystems, jeopardizing coastal
tourism and fishing industries
• Undermines Texas’ agricultural economy,
affects wildlife’s migratory patterns
• More frequent and severe droughts and
increased evaporation will combine to put
an unprecedented strain on water supply
Source: “Fair Warning: Global Warming and the Lone Star State,” Environmental Defense, May 2006.
12
Environmental Benefits
• Emission offsets compared to coal plant
–
CO2 = 977,933 tons/year (156,469 cars and
trucks/year)
–
SO2 (acid rain) = 4,642 tons/year
–
NOx (acid rain & smog) = 1,532 tons/year
• Emission offsets compared to natural gas plant
–
CO2 = 495,700 tons/year (79,312 cars and
trucks/year)
–
SO2 (acid rain) = 2.66 tons/year
–
NOx (acid rain & smog) = 497 tons/year
Source: Based on calculations from the Energy Information Administration, U.S. Climate
Technology Gateway, and the National Energy Technology Laboratory.
13
Natural Resources Preserved Compared to Fossil Fuel
Generation
Freshwater
17,493,921,330 gallons / year
47,928,552 gallons/day*
Petroleum
*can supply 532,539 people
each day
14
1,486,121 barrels / year
Coal
Natural Gas
447,773 tons / year
7,376,203 million cubic feet /
year
Source: Based on information from the Energy Information Administration, National
Energy Technology Laboratory, and U.S. Geological Survey.
Local Economic Benefits
of Gulf Wind Project
Benefits to South Texas
• Creates job opportunities for local residents
–
250 – 300 jobs during peak construction period,
9 months
–
15 - 20 permanent jobs
• Supports local economy by:
–
Purchasing goods and services during
construction and operation
–
Significantly increasing revenue for all service
businesses, i.e. local restaurants and hotels
during construction and operation
• Significantly contributes to tax base annually,
benefiting:
16
–
Kenedy County
–
Kenedy County-Wide Central School District
John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation
• One of the largest philanthropic entities in South Texas
• Donates millions of dollars every year to causes that benefit South
Texas
–
Catholic Church
–
Education
–
Poverty
• Royalties from the Gulf Wind project will allow the Foundation to
increase charitable giving in South Texas
17
Protecting Wildlife
Modern Wind Turbine Technology
Vast improvements over the first-generation models
• Produce up to 12 times more energy per turbine
• Rotors are larger and spin slower, allowing birds
to easily see them
• Mono-pole supports replaced lattice-style frames,
eliminating perching locations
• External wires are enclosed in the tower and
buried underground
• Technology monitors turbines and controls speed
19
Government Consultations
• Met with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Director Dale Hall and
the Southwest Regional Director Dr. Benjamin Tuggle
• Met with numerous USFWS biologists and other USFWS personnel
• Conducted 2 site visits for USFWS
• Conducted 2 site visits for U.S. Army Corp of Engineers
• Consulted with Army Corp of Engineers, used LIDAR technology
USFWS April 9, 2008 Letter
• “The piping power, interior least tern, and brown pelican are listed species
known from Kenedy County that are not predicted to be impacted by the
project. Interior least terns and piping plovers are not anticipated in the project
area, and brown pelicans are not expected to regularly occur in the project
area and are being delisted.”
• “….Based on our meetings, conversations, the April 9 report, and the
measures being implemented, we believe the potential for taking a listed
species has been minimized.”
20
Expert Consultants
• SWCA Environmental Consultants: conducted
wetland evaluation, storm water planning,
hydrology analysis, biological surveys,
threatened & endangered species surveys, and
archeological study
–
No federal threatened or endangered species
habitats of concern in project area
–
USACE confirmed project layout does not
require federal actions or permits
• Curry & Kerlinger, LLC: conducted avian risk
assessments
–
No impact of biological significance
• Pandion Systems: conducted ecological and
avian risk assessments
–
21
No material impact to avian populations
Regulatory Issues: Wetland Avoidance
22
•
Project designed to avoid all wetlands
(jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional)—all turbine
pads, roads, and other facilities located in uplands
•
Roads will not be excavated, but will be placed on
top of sand layer
•
Culverts will be placed as appropriate to maintain
existing drainage (as is the case with the existing
road network)
•
Geotechnical analysis shows that sand
compaction will occur within maximum of top two
feet of sand
•
Geotechnical reports show sand layer is minimum
6-8 feet deep, typically 20 feet or more
•
Neither turbines pads nor access roads, nor any
other facilities, will have a discernible effect on
surface or groundwater
Regulatory Issues: Project Site Environmental Studies
23
•
Archaeological Background Review of 16,000-Acre Tract of Kenedy Ranch for the Kenedy Wind
Energy Project. SWCA Environmental Consultants, May 25, 2005.
•
Radar-based Study of Migratory Bird Movements at Proposed Kenedy Wind Facility Project Site,
Texas, Fall 2004 and Spring 2005. ABR, Inc. Environmental Research & Services, October 2005.
•
Jurisdictional Waters Delineation Report for the Approximately 10,000-acre Gulf Wind Project,
Kenedy County Texas. November 2005.
•
Avian Risk Assessment for the Kenedy Wind Project, Kenedy County, Texas. Curry & Kerlinger,
LLC, November 2005.
•
Results of an Evaluation of the Potential For Occurrence of Special-Interest Species on the
Approximately 9,800-acre Gulf Wind project, Kenedy County, Texas. SWCA Environmental
Consultants, Jan. 18, 2006.
•
MERLIN Avian Radar Survey Data Report & Mortality Risk Assessment for the Proposed Gulf
Wind I, Kenedy County, TX, Data Period October 2006 through September 2007. Detect, Inc.
February 11, 2008.
•
The Effects of South Texas Weather Patterns on Avian Movements at the Proposed Gulf Wind I
Wind Farm Site. Patrick Pyle, Babcock & Brown, Houston, Feb. 2008.
•
Analysis of the Potential For Impact to Federally Listed Species on the Gulf Wind Energy
Development, Kenedy County, Texas. SWCA Environmental Consultants, April 2008.
Endangered Species Summary
• Ocelot
–
No sightings ever recorded
–
No suitable habitat
–
Measures taken to avoid collision risk:
- Speed limit of 25 mph (lower than at
LANWR)
- Mowing along road shoulders
- Construction crew training
• Piping Plover
–
No sightings in 3 years of surveys
–
No suitable habitat within project boundaries
• Northern Aplomado Falcon
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–
No sightings; no nests
–
Inappropriate habitat
–
Predator load
–
Safe Harbor Agreement
State-of-the-Art Avian Radar Technology
• DeTech is a world leader in development,
deployment and support of radar systems
for bird strike avoidance, avian risk
assessment and migratory research
• More than 3 years, 6 migration seasons, of
radar observation data recorded onsite; 1.5
years continuous 24/7 radar data collection
• Large majority of migration occurs above
the heights of the wind turbines
• Low altitude avian flight patterns correlate
to low wind speeds where the wind
turbines are usually not operating
• Developing mitigation plan based on low
visibility and low altitude flight patterns
25
Photo: Avian Radar at Kenedy Ranch, Babcock & Brown
MERLIN™ Avian Radar System
•
•
High resolution, precision tracking radar
system originally developed for USAF &
NASA
–
Over 40 systems operating in the US,
Canada, Europe & Africa
–
Used by USEPA, USFWS, USGS, university
researchers, airports & military
–
•
NordwindZee offshore wind farm avian
survey & monitoring radar system, The
Netherlands
Real time 24-7 bird detection & tracking
–
•
MERLIN Avian Radar System for
avian research, Louisiana
Uses military-grade radar software developed
specifically for detecting & tracking birds
MERLIN Avian Radar Systems for
wind farm & airport surveys,
England
3-6 nm range 360 degrees around site & up
10,000 ft AGL
Target & track data continuously recorded
for analysis
Provides quantitative modeling of avian
mortality risk
© 2008, DeTect, Inc., All Rights Reserved
Copyright 2007 DeTect, Inc. All Rights Reserved; Specifications & features are subject to change without notice; this
document contains DeTect Confidential materials & distribution is limited to DeTect authorized recipients only
MERLIN Avian Radar System avian
& bat survey, Butler Ridge Wind
Farm, Wisconsin
Gulf Wind I MERLIN Avian Radar Survey
MERLIN survey & data collection
started October 2006:
•System purchased & operated by
Babcock & Brown
•Operational support & data analysis
provided by DeTect
•Over 19 months of 24-7 data
collected to date
•
Radar scans & updates tracks
every ~2.4 seconds
Top: MERLIN Avian Radar
System at Gulf Wind I
Right: MERLIN system
location October 2006
through September 2007
•Data to date shows periods of avian
risk are infrequent (<1% )
© 2008, DeTect, Inc., All Rights Reserved
Copyright 2007 DeTect, Inc. All Rights Reserved; Specifications & features are subject to change without notice; this
document contains DeTect Confidential materials & distribution is limited to DeTect authorized recipients only
Avian Risk Mitigation System
MERLIN to be permanently installed &
operated as Risk Mitigation System:
•Act as "early warning system" continually
monitoring birds approaching wind farms
•MERLIN SCADA software will automatically
idle turbines when risk conditions detected
•
Derivative of DeTect technology used by
USAF to monitor aircraft risk at airfield
•
MERLIN will restart turbines when risk has
abated
•First such implementation of this technology
at a wind farm
© 2008, DeTect, Inc., All Rights Reserved
Copyright 2007 DeTect, Inc. All Rights Reserved; Specifications & features are subject to change without notice; this
document contains DeTect Confidential materials & distribution is limited to DeTect authorized recipients only
Gulf Wind Project
Cleaner Power for
a Better Tomorrow
29