SARATOGA St. LAWRENCE WIND ENERGY PROJECT ASSOCIATES REVISED SHADOW FLICKER ANALYSIS FOR FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT cola Cheri Nort America 165 Jordan Rd Troy, NY 12180 February 2, 2010Shadow Flicker The following revision to the St, Lawrence Wind Energy Project Shadow Flicker Analysis Responds t0 iicrositing changes in she final project layout. This report is incorporated by reference into the Final Environmemal tmpact Statement ‘Wind turbines can cause a flickering effect when the rotating turbine blades cast shadows that move rapidly across the ground and nearby structures. This can cause a disturbance within structures when the repeating pattern of light and shadow falls across the windows of buildings; pasticularly when ‘occupants ae trying to read or watch television. The effect, known as shadow flicker, is most ‘conspicuous when windows face a rotating wind turbine and when the sun is low in the sky (e.2. shortly after sunrise or shortly before sunset). ‘While the study of shadow flicker is a relatively new discipline, evidence from operational turbines: suggests that the intensity of shadow flicker is only an issue at short distances. It is generally accepted that shadow flicker will have no affect on properties at a distance further than ten (10) turbine rotor diameters from the turbine (approximately 2,700 feet for this Project).' Shadow flicker will only occur when certain conditions coincide: > Daylight hours (sunrise to sunset) ~ shadow flicker does not occur at night; > Sunshine ~ flicker will not occur on overcast days when daylight is not sufficiently bright to east shadows; > Recepior is within ten (10) rotor diameters of the turbine ~ beyond this distance a person should not perceive a wind turbine to be chopping through suniight, but rather as an object with the sun behind it.* indlows face the turbine — turbine shadows can only enter a structure through un-shaded windows; and > Turbine is rotating — no flicker will occur when the turbine is shut down. Because of constantly changing solar aspect and azimuth, shadows will be cast on specific days of the ‘year and will pass a stationary receptor relatively quickly. Flicker will not be an everyday event or be of extended duration when it does occur. For receptors located to the west of a turbine, a residence is ‘more likely to fall within the shadow zone shortly after sunrise when affected residents are typically asleep with shades drawn, For receptors located (o the east ofa turbine, a residence is more likely to ‘all within the shadow zone shortly before sunset. When the rotor plane is in-line with the sun and receptor (as seen from the receptor), the cast shadows will be very narrow, of low intensity, and will move quickly past the stationary receptor. When the rotor plane is perpendicular to the sun-receptor “View line,” the cast shadow of the blades will move within a larger elliptical area. ‘The distance between a wind turbine and a receptor affects the intensity of the shadows cast by the blades, and therefore the intensity of Hickering. Shadows cast close to a turbine will be more intense, distinct and “focused.” This is because a greater proportion of the sun’s dise is intermittently blocked. "hap merdianenergy co n7/WindProjects/project#west} wind/appendixepageR690 pa 2 apf ber gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/planning/onshore-wind/shadow:Micker/pagel 8736 hint SARATOGA ‘St Lamerce Wa EregyProectSupeertal Shadow Fick Aras ~ February 2, 2010 ‘ASSOCIATES ane?‘Similarly, flickering is more intense if created by the area of a blade closer tothe root and further from the tip. Beyond ten (10) turbine diameters (approximately 2,700 feet for this Project) the fensity of the blade shadow is considered negligible Shadow-flicker analysis was conducted using WindPRO 2.4 Basis software (WindPro), and associated shadow module, a widely accepted modeling software package developed specifically for the design and evaluation of wind power projects. Variables used for shadow calculations include: > Sunshine proba ies (percentage of time from sunrise to sunset with sunshine). "The ‘WindPro model calculates shadow frequency based on monthly sunshine probabilities, The following sunshine probabilities were used for this analysis and are based on historic meteorological data for Syracuse, NY, approximately 70 miles south of the Project site.” bay Feb Mak Ape Mayu) Sal Ag Sep Ost Nove 03) 039 Ode Da) OSS 089} OSH 538026028 > Operational Time/Rotor Orientation ~ The WindPro model assumes there will be no shadow flicker during calm winds (when the blades are not turning). Moreover, the orientation of the rotor (e.g., determined by wind direction) affects the size of a shadow cast area. To more accurately calculate the amount of time a shadow will be over a specific location (based on rotor orientation), the WindPro model considers typical wind direction. The operational time {hours per year [hrs/yr}) of wind direction is based on meteorological dats collected by the National Oceanographic and. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Buoy Data Center at the Galloo Island, NY monitoring station’ (approximately 15 miles southwest of the Village of Cape Vincent) over‘a one year period in 2000? as follows: KoONNE NE ENE E BSE SE SSE S SSW SW WWW WNW NW NNW Calm Sil 517 739 352 187 243 27 toms 63H 9 eH SHO 74D ATS aS ‘Shadow flicker analysis has been undertaken for the 53-turbine layout using a turbine rotor 82 meters {2n) (269 feet) in diameter (with the exception of turbine #28, which will have a rotor 77 m [252.6 feet] in diameter) and 80 m (262.5 feet) hub height. The analysis has been completed for distances of up co 820 m (2.700 feet) from each turbine location (ten times the rotor diameter of the proposed turbines), This analysis also includes the effect of topography on shaclow area, The shadow flicker model incorporates the same digital elevation model (DEM) of the study area used for viewshed analysis (see section 3.1.1 of the Visual Resource Assessment) Using these variables, WindPro was used to calculate the theoretical number of hours per year the shadow of a rotor would fall at any given location within the 2,700-foot turbine radius. This calcufation includes the cumulative sum of shadow hours for all turbines and is accurate to 10-meter atid cell resolution. > hupaaweather-comi/ced/aygsun htm (data for Syracus “The Galloo Island isthe closest weather monitoring station for which Full year wind data is available * hupultwwwndbe.noaa-govistation_istory php?station=GLLN6 SARATOGA St. Laaance Wind Energy Project Suoolrertal Shadow Fcker Anais ~Fetniary 2, 2010,Figure CI, illustrates the geographic area of cumulative shadow impact using the following increments: > 1-10 hrsiyr: 11-20 heslyr; > 2130 hrs/yr; > >30hrs/yr ‘WindPro does not have the capability to incorporate the possible screening effect of existing ‘vegetation. To account for this more realistic condition, a second shadow limit map was prepared excluding areas determined through viewshed analysis (see Figure 2 in the Visual Resource Assessment) to be screened from turbine visibility by existing vegetation. This vegetated condition shadow limits map, although not considered absolutely definitive, acceptably identifies the {geographic area within which one would expect to be substantially sereened from turbine shadows by intervening forest vegetation, Figure C2, illustrates the geographic area of cumulative shadow impact including the screening effect of existing vegetation. SARATOGA St Lawrence Wind Energy Projet Supclemertl Shadow FckerAndysis~ February 2, 2010 ‘ASSOCIATES, Petes‘Shadow Flicker Analysis "There are no regulations or guidelines that establish a threshold for significant adverse shadow-flicker impact on a potential receptor. However, in parts of Europe, 30 hours is used as a maximum the number of acceptable shadow flicker hours,® Existing residential structures generally located within 2 2,700-foot radius of a proposed turbine were identified through ait-photo interpretation, as well as field verification, In addition, supplemental data Was generated in the field using x GPS (Global Positioning System). Each existing residential structure was evaluated to determine potential shadow impact. Table 1 summarizes the number of hours per year each inventoried structure would theoretically fall within the shadow zone of one oF more-proposed turbines. The location of inventoried structures is included in Figure C1 and C2. (OF 177 studied shadow receptors located within 10 rotor diameters 75 (42.4%) will be impacted less than 1 br/yr; 79 (42.4%) will be impacted 1-10 hrs/yr; 20 (11.3%) will be impacted 11-20 bars/ys; > 6 (3.45) will be impacted 21-30 rs/yr, and > 10.6%) will be impacted more than 30 hes/yr. ‘One (1) residence will be impacted more than 30 hours per year (Structure # 88 will be impacted 30.1 Ius/yz) Based on the limited number of hours any structure will be impacted, shadow Ricker is not expected to create an adverse impact on most nearby residential dwellings. For residences where shadow flicker is greatest, this impact might be considered an annoyance by some, and unnoticed by others. Residences impacted 21-30.1 hours per year include (See Figure C2) Existing Shadow Structure # Hours Parcel 1D Owner Name Property Address 3422.2 40,00-1-6 Lawrence Richard J 32905/989 Hell St ‘Town of Cape Vincent 3528.4 40,00-1-6 Lawrence Richard J 32905/989 Hell St Town of Cape Vincent 36 25,8 40,00-I-14 Lawrence Richard J 33020 Hell St Town of Cape Vincent 4521.1 40,00-1.23.3 Mason Troy 33399 Mason Rd’ Town of Cape Vincent 49 23.8 40,00-1-35 Henchy Christophers 7776 Co Rte 8 Town of Cape Vincent 86 28,0 40,00-1-24 Boyle Timothy John 7278 CoRte8_ Town of Cape Vincent 88 30.1 40,00-1-25.1 Docteur Donald H 7242 CoRte8_ Town of Cape Vincent "nxptheww. windpower.orpleftourfenv/shadow! St Lawrence Wind Energy Proeet_ Supplemental Shadow Fiter Anas Ferry 2, 2010,