Alternative Energy Draft EA - NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Flight ...

Proposed Action and Alternatives
The workspace radius required around each turbine tower during construction activities would be
approximately 45.7 meters (150 feet). Clearing of existing vegetation beyond the foundation and
crane pad footprints would not be required. A crane pad would be installed within the 45.7-meter
(150-foot) radius of the wind turbine and would be approximately 15.2 meters (50 feet) by 15.2
meters (50 feet). The orientation and size of the crane pad could vary depending on the
requirements of the wind turbine construction contractor.
Underground power collection lines would be built to interconnect each wind turbine to the
existing Wallops Island 12.47-kilovolt electrical distribution system (see Figure 6). These power
lines would be installed in conduit via horizontal directional drilling, which is a trenchless
method of installing underground pipes, conduits, and cables in a shallow arc along a prescribed
bore path, to minimize wetland disturbance. Step-up transformers for each wind turbine would
be air-insulated and installed inside the base of the each tower. Additionally, interconnection
switchgear would be installed inside the tower assemblies. All electrical equipment would be
installed inside and out of the weather to minimize potential corrosion on the equipment and
potential wetland disturbance.
2.3.1.2 Residential-Scale Turbines
Up to five residential-scale (2.4 kW) wind turbines would be installed under the Proposed
Action. The representative residential-scale wind turbine described in Section 2.1.1.1 and Table
4 would be used. One of the 2.4 kW wind turbines would be installed near the WFF Visitor
Center, and a second would be installed near the security guard station at the Mainland (Figure
4). The locations of the remaining three wind turbines are unknown at this time, but would be
placed within the areas that NASA has identified as potential suitable locations at WFF (see
Section 2.1.1.2 for a description of the methodology used to determine potentially suitable
locations). Figure 4 shows the potentially suitable areas where three of the 2.4 kW wind turbines
could be installed.
The wind turbines would be constructed with a setback distance of 30 meters (100 feet) from
existing towers, buildings, and trees. The finished subsurface footprint of each 2.4 kW wind
turbine would be approximately 1 meter (3 feet) in diameter, with a foundation depth of 6 meters
(20 feet). No transformers or interconnection switchgear would be needed. Standard home
electric wiring (10 gauge) would be buried in a trench from the wind turbine to the desired
facility.
2.3.1.3 Operation, Maintenance, and Decommissioning
Operation and Maintenance
NASA would utilize data currently collected at various locations/towers on Wallops Island to
monitor wind speed and direction, rather than building a new meteorological tower specifically
for the Proposed Action. Existing WFF maintenance staff along with on-call manufacturer
maintenance support staff would be used to maintain the turbines and transmission system; no
new staff would be hired for the operation and maintenance of the turbines. Operations and
maintenance staff and equipment would be housed in existing NASA facilities, negating the need
to construct any new buildings for operations and maintenance.
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