Small wind generators, while preferable to competitive forms of electricity production, also have an environmental price tag. Wind systems are material intensive and large-scale applications will require mining, manufacturing, processing and waste disposaf---each with its own set of impacts. Bi~dkills, particularly from migrating flocks,.are a major concern. And wind systems are possible sources of interference with communications such as ground-to-air controls, automatic train controls, and possibly TV and radio signals. . Burns, shock and electrocution from improper handling or poorly maintained equipment are other hazards; this is especially true for utii'ity linemen who coulp be zapped by an unexpected surge into a grid from a connected windmill. Poorly designed windmills could throw a blade, and the generators' towers would be good targets for lightning. A large wood-cutting industry accompanying the widespread use of woodstoves could pose many of the same problems now associated with the logging indl:lstry. Heavy wood cutting could result in the removal of a forest's nutrient base, encourage stream sedimentation, pose problems of fugitive dust and facilitate increased flooding in surrounding areas. Heavily logged areas \\-'.Ould become unsuitable for wildlife' or for recreational use. Woodburning itself could result in the relt;ase of a c·onsiderable amount of particulate matter which poses both an immediate air pollution problem as well as a subsequent disposal problem; ash tends to be acidic and as such ca~ pose a threat'to both soil and water environments. In addition, soine increases in the emission of .carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons might be expected. And finally, wood stoves could increase the likelihood of home fires or the incidence of serious injuries due to burns. Bri,nging any significant number of the thousands of potential small-scale hydro sites available around the country into production can result in the flooding and loss of nearby acreage. Small dams can serve as traps for organic and inorganic compounds which could be released into waterways; l'ow oxygen effects and the presence of hydrogen sulfide can induce fish kills. The operation of the dam turbines can injure aquatic life as well and restrict upstream fish migration and/ or reduce breeding sites. • Some storage systems such as batteries pose a range of environmental and health concerns. Their use will prob,ably entail the consumption of significant quantities of lead, rtic;kel, • antimony1, zinc and other materials that are persistent, cumulative environmental poisons. Lead acid batteries can cause electric shock, fire, spillage of sulfuric acid; charging and operation can generate'explosive hydrogen gas. The manufacture of such batteries releases lead,residuals' into the atmosphere. And various chemi.cal forms of nickel such as nickel carbonyl which ,may be used in production of nickel/zinc or nickel/ iron batteries are known carcinogens; dermatitis and neoplas~ns . are among the industrial health problems encountered by workers in the nickel industry. There are, of course, safer storage alternatives, such as fly~ .wheels, cold-water storage and rock b,ed storage. However, there are environmental impacts with these as well. In rock bed storage, for example, there is the problem of fungus growth which invites the use of herbicides and fungicides. February-March 1979 RAIN Page 19 Beyond p~oblems of epviwnmental imp~cts and personal or worker safety, there are a broad range of social impacts that should be considered. Those, however, would require a second. article. These and many other solar shortcomings are largely avoidable with some carefol planning and general awareness of their e:;xistence. However, solar advocates would do ·well to-remember the axiom that "nature gives nothing away free; everything has a price." Whi~e solar technologies are, by and large, vastly preferable to nuclear power and fossil fuel options, they still have negative impacts. It should be the pro-solar community that is in the forefront of ~hose interests addressing these shortcomings; solar proponents will seem all the more responsible if they acknowledge the problems of their own technology and work to implemerit solar policies tha~ lessen or eliminate these shortcomings. • Resources: 1) An 8-page report, The Hazards of Solar Energy, is available for 75r/. from the Citizens' Energy Project, 1413 "K" St., N.W., Washington, DC 20005. 2) Social Assessment of On-Site Solar Energy Technologies-- June 1978 is available from the Office of Energy Programs, School of Engineering & Appl,ied Science, George Washington U., Washington, DC 20052. 3) Environmental Readiness Documents are being prepared by Robert Blaunstein, DOE.Asst. Sec. for Environment, Office of Technology Impacts, Washington, DC 20545.
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