Q: Some Long Island officials have claimed that Danish C02 emissions have actually increased despite all the wind farms… is this true?

Larsen: This is untrue – carbon dioxide emissions have actually fallen 20% between 1996 and 2004, although we need and want to do more. As Denmark’s electricity system has become more centralized and green, C02 emissions have been reduced even as the country’s gross domestic product has risen.

Q: Doesn’t Denmark have a lot of old plants that need to be repowered and would work better than wind power?

Larsen: No – when it comes to C02 emissions reduction, wind is the answer. Also, Denmark has among the cleanest running power plants in the world. With more people driving cars and increasing their electricity consumption at home and work, we will continue to need clean energy resources like wind power which don’t produce C02 gases and help us meet our renewable energy targets.

Q: What happens when the wind doesn’t blow?

Larsen: In Denmark, wind is designed to be part of a mixed power system; other back-up generation is still running and available of course, but this is the same for all types of generation in our system. Wind energy is a complement to the system that reduces fossil fuel use and dangerous emissions.

Q: Does the Middelgrunden Wind Farm have security zones or fishing restrictions?

Larsen: The wind farm is located less than 2 miles from shore in busy Copenhagen Harbor. We have no exclusion zones and no problems with boat traffic at all. We welcome fishing right off the platforms in Denmark, and they do!

Q: What about the problems with wind farms and radar in the United Kingdom?

Larsen: In Denmark, civilian radar is not a problem at all, although I am not familiar with any radar defense issue in Denmark. This problem however, is being addressed by the UK government and Defense Department, which are working towards a solution with development of a technology designed to filter out potential wind farm interference. BAE Systems, which developed this technology, recently completed successful trials of the system near four wind farms in mid-Wales.

Note: On September 28, 2006, the US Department of Defense released its congressionally mandated report which concluded that the construction of wind farms should proceed as long as the turbines don’t interfere with military radar. With proper siting and mitigation measures, the Defense Department “fully supports the development of wind farms and other sources of renewable energy, so long as the safety of our airspace is not compromised.”

Q: Some officials have claimed that not one Danish power plant has been shut down as a result of adding wind power… is this true?

Larsen: Of course we keep our same plants… in Denmark, the wind farms have avoided the need to build more fossil fuel and other types of power plants while producing clean energy and reducing pollution.

Q: Is there any oil leakage from the substations?

Larsen: We have had no problems at Middelgrunden Wind Farm; bigger wind farms have transformer stations. If necessary, steel containment walls can be built around them to capture oil, but this is not likely to happen or to be a problem.

Q: Aren’t the wind turbines noisy? And what about the impacts on fish and birds?

Larsen: You simply cannot hear the wind turbines beyond 500 meters – it is impossible. After three years, there have been no negative impacts on the sea floor and the turbines have created artificial mini reefs which attract the fish. Birds are seldom bothered by wind turbines and there has been no effect. More birds are killed by cars or by flying into buildings and high voltage lines.

Q: Aren’t European countries, including Denmark, canceling or taking down wind farms?

Larsen: NO – in Europe there is no stopping of investment in wind power! Germany and Spain are building up so much there is an actual turbine shortage. In Denmark, we are building more offshore wind farms and repowering 300 MW of older wind turbines.

Q: How much electricity does wind power provide in Denmark? Why is it so successful?

Larsen: 20% of our electricity for 5 million residents comes from wind power. We have this success because 81% of Danish wind energy projects are local and community based. 58% of our country’s 5,000 turbines are owned by individuals and 23% are owned by cooperatives. In Denmark, we have government renewable energy policies that have supported this development with a feed-in tariff system and grid connection law.

Q: What about the view? Don’t people complain about the way they look?

Larsen: A Danish public opinion poll in 2006 reveals that 96% of residents are favorable to wind power. A tourist opinion poll of Middelgrunden this year shows 94% favorable to the offshore wind farm. I hope Americans will accept the view of turbines because it is a small price to pay for the benefits.


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