Does the construction and maintenance of wind farms have a negative effect on wildlife habitat?
Construction and maintenance impacts resulting from wind farms can be significant. Habitat fragmentation and conversion of pervious surfaces to impervious surfaces are two of the major impacts that can be expected from wind farm construction. Most access roads will need to at least 35 feet to handle the turning radius of the heavy equipment. A typical urban street is 26 feet wide and accommodates vehicular traffic in two directions. Accommodating these wide access roads in conjunction with additional infrastructure needs, like concrete platforms to set the turbines on, maintenance buildings, new power lines and substations all pose a significant impact on the landscape.
