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

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Executive Summary kW wind turbines would be installed near the WFF Visitor Center, and a second one would be installed near the security guard station at the Mainland. The locations of the remaining three residential-scale wind turbines are unknown at this time, but would be placed within the areas that NASA has identified as potential suitable locations at WFF. The residential-scale turbines would not contribute much to the percent of energy generated from renewable sources at WFF because of their small power output; their primary purpose would be to provide outreach and education to WFF employees and the public about wind energy. New access roads would be constructed to each utility-scale wind turbine. Underground power collection lines would be built to interconnect each wind turbine to the existing Wallops Island electrical distribution system. These power lines would be installed by directional drilling, a trenchless method, to avoid affecting wetlands. Previously disturbed areas, including the cleared area east of the U.S. Navy V-10/V-20 complex, would be used for staging of equipment and materials for the utility-scale turbines, and for construction vehicle parking. The construction period for the two utility-scale wind turbines would be approximately 6 months. The residential-scale wind turbines would be constructed with a setback distance of 30 meters (100 feet) from existing towers, buildings, and trees. No transformers or interconnection switchgear would be needed. Alternative One Under Alternative One, NASA would construct one utility-scale wind turbine on Wallops Island that would be capable of generating 5 GWh of electricity per year. The single 2.0 MW wind turbine would be located west of the U.S. Navy V-10/V-20 complex in the same location as the southern wind turbine under the Proposed Action. The footprint, work space, and staging areas would be the same as described under the Proposed Action, but the construction period would be approximately 4 months. NASA would also install up to five 2.4 kW wind turbines at the Main Base and Mainland as described under the Proposed Action Alternative. In addition to the wind turbines, NASA would install a system of solar panels at Wallops Main Base that would be capable of generating up to 5 GWh/year (the equivalent of one utility-scale wind turbine). Approximately 19,000-square-meter (15-square-foot) solar panels, equaling an area of approximately 3 hectares (7.5 acres), would be needed to meet this power generating capability. Panel spacing requirements (to avoid shading and allow maintenance) would increase the overall required land area dedicated to solar panels to approximately 16 hectares (40 acres). The power generated by the solar panels would be connected via underground transmission lines to a set of switchgear that would be enclosed in a small 5-meter by 6-meter (16-foot by 20-foot) pre-fabricated building. Solar panels would be installed in open, grassy areas of Wallops Main Base. The installation period for the solar panels would be approximately 2 months. Alternative Two NASA would install up to five 2.4 kW wind turbines at the Main Base and Mainland as described under the Proposed Action Alternative. Alternative Two would also consist of installing a system of solar panels at Wallops Main Base that would be capable of generating 10 GWh/year of power. To produce this amount of energy, WFF would install approximately 38,000-square-meter (15-square-foot) solar panels that would equal an area of approximately 6 hectares (15 acres). Panel spacing requirements (to avoid shading and allow maintenance) would ii
Executive Summary increase the overall required land area dedicated to solar panels to approximately 32 hectares (80 acres). The power generated by the solar panels would be connected via underground transmission lines to a set of switchgear that would be enclosed in a small 5-meter by 6-meter (16-foot by 20-foot) pre-fabricated building. Solar panels would be installed in open, grassy areas of Wallops Main Base. All solar panels would be located and situated so as not to result in glare that would be a safety hazard to pilots flying in the WFF Aircraft Operating Area. The installation period for the solar panels would be approximately 4 months. No Action Alternative Under the No Action Alternative, NASA would not participate in the funding or construction of renewable energy sources at WFF to supplement the current supply of electricity that is provided by the local electric cooperative. The requirements for the implementation of sustainable practices for energy efficiency and reductions in GHG emissions, and for the use of renewable energy set forth in the Federal regulations, would not be met by WFF. SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS Under the No Action Alternative, activities would remain at present levels and there would be no additional impacts on environmental resources. However, there would be no reduction in the use of fossil fuels, which contribute to GHG production and global climate change, during the production of electricity that supplies WFF. Potential environmental impacts resulting from the Proposed Action and Alternatives are summarized in the Table ES-1 below. Table ES-1: Summary of Environmental Impacts for the Proposed Action and Alternatives Resource Proposed Action Alternative One Alternative Two Topography Long-term minor adverse Long-term minor adverse No impacts. impacts from construction impacts from construction of permanent access roads of permanent access road to to wind turbines within wind turbine within wetlands. Changes to wetlands. Changes to natural drainage patterns natural drainage patterns would be minor. would be minor. Geology and Spills or leaks of pollutants Spills or leaks of pollutants Spills or leaks of pollutants Soils would have the potential to would have the potential to would have the potential to adversely affect soils. adversely affect soils. adversely affect soils. NASA NASA would implement NASA would implement would implement site- site-specific Best site-specific BMPs for specific BMPs for vehicle Management Practices vehicle and equipment and equipment fueling and (BMPs) for vehicle and fueling and maintenance, maintenance, and spill equipment fueling and and spill prevention and prevention and control maintenance, and spill control measures. Minor measures. No impacts on prevention and control long-term impacts on geology. measures. Minor long-term geology immediately iii
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Page 5: INTRODUCTION Executive Summary This
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Affected Environment The Virginia S
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Affected Environment FIRM Community
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3.1.4 Climate Change Table 8: Calen
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Wind Affected Environment For Wallo
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Affected Environment The Accomack C
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Affected Environment On the souther
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Affected Environment phoeniceus), B
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Affected Environment The Saxis Wil
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Affected Environment For the once-p
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Affected Environment less common, w
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Affected Environment were also obse
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Affected Environment Over the entir
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3.2.4.1 Birds Henslow’s Sparrow A
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Affected Environment Monitoring was
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Loggerhead Shrike Affected Environm
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Affected Environment known or recor
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Table 17: Occupational Distribution
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Affected Environment Chincoteague I
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3.3.6 Transportation Affected Envir
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Affected Environment Photograph 2:
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Proposed Action Environmental Conse
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Environmental Consequences The inst
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Alternative Two Environmental Conse
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Environmental Consequences The func
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Environmental Consequences Based on
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Environmental Consequences Table 22
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Environmental Consequences Based on
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Alternative One Environmental Conse
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Environmental Consequences conceiva
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Environmental Consequences wetland
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Environmental Consequences of magni
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Environmental Consequences is the a
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Environmental Consequences (TREC).
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Environmental Consequences why bats
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Environmental Consequences determin
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Environmental Consequences While a
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Gull-Billed Tern Environmental Cons
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Environmental Consequences In addit
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Environmental Consequences staff. T
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Proposed Action Aboveground Resourc
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Alternative One Aboveground Resourc
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4.4.4 Transportation No Action Alte
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Environmental Consequences site tha
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Environmental Consequences 2) Placi
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Environmental Consequences projects
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Environmental Consequences Although
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4.6 PERMITS, LICENSES, AND APPROVAL
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Mitigation and Monitoring 5.2.1 Pos
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Mitigation and Monitoring would be
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Agencies, Organizations, and Person
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NASA WFF Technical Library Building
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Name Organization Other Organizatio
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References Cohen, J.B., S. Karpanty
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References Kunz, T.H., E.B. Arnett,
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References Richardson, D.L. 1992. H
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References USFWS. 2009c. Northeaste
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Alternative Energy Draft EA - NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Flight ...

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