Frequently Asked Questions

There are two basic types of wind turbines: horizontal axis and vertical axis, or "egg beater" style. Horizontal-axis wind turbines are by far the most common, representing more than 95 percent of all utility-scale turbines (i.e., capacity of 100 or more kilowatts). From the top of the swept area to the ground, a large, commercial horizontal-axis wind turbine can be taller than a 20-story building.

Continuous variations in wind direction, speed and intensity cause some turbines to spin while others nearby may be idle.

Sophisticated monitoring and wind resource analysis allow wind developers to estimate with a high degree of certainty "when" and "how much" wind energy is available, so customers can plan their wind power purchases. When the wind blows, it can displace fossil-fueled generation such as oil and gas. Studies have shown that when a utility diversifies its power portfolio with the addition of wind energy, it can meet demands more reliably.

When the wind is calm, the turbine is at rest. However, at the hub height of a utility-scale wind turbine – usually more than 200 feet above ground – on a site selected specifically for its good wind resources, it is rare for the wind to be totally still.

Yes, but they vary by region. In California, the peak wind season is summer; in the Midwest, it's fall and winter; in Texas, spring is peak. Each wind plant has specific daily and seasonal variations. Each wind site also has specific wind patterns, which are determined through wind studies conducted during early development of a project.

Turbines sited in areas that experience extreme cold or heat are equipped with special Arctic or tropical equipment packages. Nevertheless, in sustained winds of 56 mph or gusts of about 100 mph, turbines shut down automatically.

Wind turbines generally require preventative maintenance checkups two to three times per year.

The elaborate computer system inside a turbine performs thorough self-diagnostic tests and troubleshoots errors before the startup command is given. If the computer detects any problems it cannot auto-correct, the turbine automatically shuts down. In addition, a SCADA (system control and data acquisition) control system allows a remote operator (using a modem from anywhere in the country) to set new operating parameters, perform system checks and ensure turbines are operating at peak performance.

Not at all. Today, wind energy is the fastest-growing renewable energy resource in the world. Wind energy has always been clean and renewable and, over the past 20 years, the cost of wind energy has dropped about 80 percent. With the federal production tax credit, wind energy can be competitive with other energy sources.

Wind energy is one of the safest energy technologies, with several built-in safety features.

"They also require minimal maintenance, and the reliability of wind turbines, measured in terms of availability to make electricity when the wind is blowing, is better than 98 percent." (Source: Paul Gipe, Wind Power Comes of Age, 1996)

Modern turbines are equipped with an extensive lightning protection system that transfers high voltages and currents without affecting turbine operations.

Wind turbines have moving parts, but the sound they make is virtually undetectable from a distance. You would have little difficulty conversing right beneath one.

Wind-generated electricity has become more economical to produce in the past 10 years, dropping from as much as 30 cents per kilowatt-hour to 4 to 7 cents, making it more competitive with other energy sources. The cost to develop and build a wind energy facility is approximately $1.6 million to $1.9 million per megawatt, compared to a cost for gas-fired energy generation of $800,000 per megawatt.

The federal Wind Production Tax (PTC), first enacted in 1994, dramatically changed the economics of wind production through a tax incentive to develop and operate wind generation facilities. It provides a substantial economic benefit that lowers the cost of wind energy for the customer and helps promote a sensible energy policy that wisely encourages diversification of energy sources.

While we cannot predict any direct correlation between new wind energy facilities and the price consumers will pay for electricity, easing the supply crunch with cost-efficient sources of power could prevent higher prices.

Building a strong partnership with the community is critical to the success of every NextEra Energy Resources project. With community dialogue a vital component of our strategy, we start speaking with residents early in the project development process to introduce the project and solicit early feedback on our proposal. Our goals are to:

• Establish a cooperative relationship with the community
• Listen to our neighbors
• Share information
• Ensure that our proposal fits the interests and priorities of the community

We also meet with elected and appointed officials, civic associations, environmental groups and other community organizations. We periodically share new information, as it becomes available, to provide project updates to the community.

A wind farm in open, flat terrain generally requires about 40 acres per megawatt of installed capacity. As little as 1 percent of that total acreage is needed for turbines and access roads, meaning as much as 99 percent remains free for other uses, such as farming or ranching. A wind plant on a ridgeline in hilly terrain will require much less space – as little as two acres per megawatt.

Easement terms can vary widely, based on a number of factors, such as the:

• Available wind resources
• Accessibility to transmission lines
• Per kilowatt price that utility customers are willing to pay for wind power

Providing easements on small portions of the overall acreage for siting wind turbines can subsidize poor crop conditions and help landowners hold on to family farms and ranches.

The easement will most likely cover:

• Payment terms
• Length of easement
• Other uses of the property
• The location and type of access roads and other support facilities
• The condition of the land after wind operations cease

Once a wind farm is operational, there should be virtually no disruption to the surrounding land. Wind turbines and access roads (which are constructed along property lines whenever possible so as not to disrupt access to crops and stock) usually account for approximately 1 percent of overall acreage. Farm animals can graze immediately below a wind turbine, because even at the bottom of its swing, the rotor blade is generally more than 100 feet above the ground.

No. However, landowners are compensated for loss of crops during construction and loss of yield in future years due to soil compaction from construction equipment. Determining when construction begins depends more upon the completion of easements and permitting, as well as having the wind farm operational before peak wind seasons arrive, which varies by region.

Yes. During construction there will be additional traffic, although the construction of wind turbines is relatively quick when compared to other types of power plants. Some can be brought online in a matter of months, versus natural gas power plants, for example, which can take two years or more to build.

Although construction is temporary, it will require heavy equipment, including bulldozers, graders, trenching machines, concrete trucks, flatbed trucks and large cranes.

The process involves:

• Land clearing, grading, laying out access roads, turbine sites and cable routes
• Excavating and pouring concrete foundations
• Digging trenches for underground electrical cables
• Laying electrical and communication cables
• Building overhead collection system, substation and transmission lines to the utility system (if required)
• Assembling and erecting wind turbine towers
• Mounting nacelles on top of towers
• Attaching rotors
• Making electrical connections between towers and the power collection system
• Testing the system

A typical turbine site takes about a 42 x 42-foot-square graveled area; you can farm or graze right up to that area.

A wind turbine, like almost any other tall structure, will cast a shadow when the sun is shining. The rotor blades may chop the sunlight, causing a flickering or blinking effect while the rotor is in motion. NextEra Energy Resources has a self-imposed requirement to locate turbines at least 1,400 feet from residential areas to virtually eliminate all shadowing to a residence.

The siting of wind turbines is governed by long-term agreements that can cover periods of up to 20 to 30 years, depending upon the expected life span of the turbine. When turbines are removed, the land is returned to virtually its original condition. Typically, tower foundations and other structures are removed to a specified below-ground depth.

A confidential environmental review is performed for every project. NextEra Energy Resources works to preserve cultural and environmental resources. Wind projects are sited in areas where there is good wind, the ability to transmit the energy, a market for the energy, and land use is compatible with a wind farm.

No. Wind-generated power does not produce any greenhouse gas emissions, water emissions or solid waste byproducts.

Typical steps include:

• Preapplication
• Application review
• Decision making
• Administrative and judicial review
• Permit compliance

Issues that might be addressed include:

• Land use
• Noise
• Birds and other biological resources
• Visual impact
• Soil erosion
• Water quality
• Public health and safety
• Cultural and paleontological resources
• Socioeconomics, public services and infrastructure
• Solid and hazardous wastes
• Air quality and climate

For more detailed information, refer to Permitting of Wind Energy Facilities, a handbook prepared by the National Wind Coordinating Committee.

Depending upon the size and potential impact of the proposed project, regulating bodies on the local, state and/or federal level might participate in the permitting process:

• At the local level, the local planning commission, zoning board, city council or county board of supervisors or commissioners generally govern permitting. Many projects may also require some form of local grading or building permit to assure compliance with structural, mechanical and electrical codes.
• On the state level, permits may be required from natural resource and environmental protection agencies, historic preservation offices, industrial development and regulation agencies, public utility commissions and / or siting boards.
• Federal permitting authorities can include federal land management agencies (such as the U.S. Forest Service), the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

NextEra Energy Resources generally secures long-term commitments for a wind farm's output from one or more buyers prior to construction.

The length of time will vary from project to project, but wind farms can be brought on-stream faster than most other types of power-generating facilities. For example, natural gas power plants can take two to three years or more to develop. The permitting process for wind is less complex because wind energy does not have the same environmental impact as fossil-fueled power generators. Wind energy produces no emissions and no solid waste by-products. The length of construction will depend primarily upon the number of turbines to be erected, the terrain and prevailing weather conditions. In some cases, this can all be accomplished within six to nine months.

Wind turbines can provide a unity power factor and help in stabilizing voltage. Newer wind generators have switched capacitors that are applied as generation and VAR demand increases, keeping power factor above 99 percent. One turbine now on the market uses power electronics and a variable speed rotor to automatically maintain the desired grid voltage or reactive power flow to the utility. This design feature is particularly beneficial to weaker grids.

A study of system interface and operational issues by Robert Putnam of Electrotek Concepts found no insurmountable challenges. He noted, "Any issues that have developed, such as intermittency and voltage regulation, can be addressed by accepted power system procedures and practices." (Source: American Wind Energy Association in Wind Energy Weekly, #680, 15 January 1996)

There are numerous uses for solar energy, including heating water for residential use, space heating of buildings, drying agricultural products and generating electrical energy.

After the initial investment in solar-energy equipment, the costs are minimal since the sun provides free "fuel." These facilities are not affected by the supply and demand of fuel and subject to price volatility, and solar energy can help reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy. Solar energy is also clean and renewable, which helps protect our environment.

The initial cost of constructing solar energy facilities is high, so the overall cost of solar energy is also high compared to more traditional forms of power generation. In addition, energy from the sun is intermittent and varies from region to region. Solar energy also requires quite a large area of land for installation to achieve a good level of efficiency. This would not be practical in providing for the energy needs of large numbers of consumers. Finally, no solar energy can be produced during nighttime, although some relatively small applications may have battery backup systems.

Eleven plants are located in California and two in Arizona. No statistics are being collected on solar plants that produce less than 1 megawatt of electricity, so there may be smaller solar plants in a number of other states. (Source: Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy)

NextEra Energy Resources is the larger generator of solar energy in the country, operating seven Solar Electric Generating Systems (SEGS) facilities in California's Mojave Desert; the Paradise Solar Energy Center in New Jersey; and the Hatch Solar Energy Center in New Mexico.

Solar energy represents about 1 percent of NextEra Energy Resources' generation.

Natural gas is a fossil fuel like oil and coal. It is a "non-renewable" fuel because it takes millions of years to form deep in the earth before it can be used again. When microorganisms, sea plants and animals died over 300 million years ago, even before the dinosaurs, they settled on the bottom of the oceans, which covered most of the earth. This material built up as layers over time, and the pressure and heat from the earth turned them into petroleum and natural gas. The natural gas would get trapped in pockets of underground rocks.

Geologists locate the types of rock that are usually found near gas deposits, and testing is conducted. If the site seems promising, drilling begins. Some of these areas are on land but many are deep in the ocean. Once gas is found, it flows up through the well to the ground's surface and into large pipelines.

Natural gas has fewer emissions of sulfur, carbon and nitrogen than coal or oil. It also has almost no ash particles left after burning. This is one reason that natural gas is an attractive energy source, especially for electricity generation. (Source: Energy Information Administration)

We have incorporated the cleanest-burning fossil fuel into our portfolio with seven natural gas facilities in five states.

When atoms split, large amounts of energy called nuclear energy are released in the form of heat.

Unlike fossil-fueled plants, nuclear power plants do not burn fuel. The heat needed to create steam in a nuclear power plant comes from the splitting of uranium atoms – a process called fission. During fission, even smaller particles of the atom, called neutrons, are released. The neutrons strike other uranium atoms, releasing additional neutrons that in turn split more uranium atoms. This "chain reaction" provides the heat needed to produce steam and generate electricity.

Nuclear power plants are very safe. NextEra Energy Resources maintains very high operating standards at its nuclear power plants, and employee and public health and safety are always of highest priority. Nuclear power plants are designed to emphasize the reliability of plant systems, redundancy and diversity of plant safety systems, and strong, multiple physical barriers that provide for radiological protection. Nuclear power operations also are monitored and regulated every day by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors stationed at the site. Industry groups also promote excellent performance and share procedural and safety lessons learned by member companies.

The nuclear energy industry is one of the few industries whose security program is regulated by the federal government. Nuclear power plants are the most secure industrial facilities in the United States, including robust physical barriers such as concrete barriers and crash-resistant gates, a comprehensive security program that includes high-tech intrusion detection and alarm systems, as well as highly qualified security officers who meet rigorous federal requirements.

There are more than 440 nuclear power plants operating in 30 countries worldwide, providing about 16 percent of the world's electricity production. In the United States, there are 103 nuclear power plants that provide about 27 percent of America's electricity. NextEra Energy, Inc., operates five nuclear power plants – St. Lucie and Turkey Point plants in south Florida, Seabrook Station in New Hampshire, Duane Arnold in Iowa, and Point Beach in Wisconsin.

Nuclear energy accounts for approximately 14 percent of NextEra Energy Resources total portfolio.

NextEra Energy Resources operates three nuclear power plants: the Seabrook Station, a 1,246-megawatt pressurized water reactor located in New Hampshire; the Duane Arnold Energy Center, a 615-megawatt boiling water reactor located in Iowa; and Point Beach Nuclear Plant, a 1,023-megawatt pressurized water reactor, in Wisconsin.