Erik Edward Nordman

Offshore Wind Energy in Michigan: Economic costs and benefits

Erik Edward Nordman et al. — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:39:31 PST

Offshore Wind Energy in Michigan: Implications for the Great Lakes Environment

Erik Edward Nordman et al. — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:36:49 PST

Beliefs and Attitudes toward Boating of Four Stakeholder Groups in the Saranac Lake Area

Diane Kuehn Ph.D. et al. — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:21:42 PDT

Public natural resource management agencies work with diverse stakeholder groups such as business owners, visitors, and landowners as they implement visitor management policies. This study focuses on the attitudes and beliefs of four stake- holder groups in relation to the use of nonmotorized boats, motorized boats, and personal watercraft (e.g., Jet Skis) on water bodies in the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest of New York State’s Adirondack Park. A mixed-methods approach including land manager interviews and stakeholder surveys was used. Interview results were the basis for the questionnaire used in mail surveys of shoreline and inland landowners, business owners, and campers. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences among the four stakeholder groups concerning beliefs and attitudes toward nonmotorized and motorized boat use, but no significant differences in beliefs and attitudes toward personal watercraft use.

Offshore Wind Energy Outreach: Wind Farm Visual Simulation

Erik Edward Nordman — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:53:13 PDT

Public Perceptions of Offshore Wind in Michigan's Upper Pennisula

Celia Haven et al. — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:52:10 PDT

Status of Offshore Wind Energy in Michigan's Great Lakes - Fact Sheet

Erik Edward Nordman — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:49:08 PDT

Citizen Views on Offshore Wind Energy in Lake Michigan - Fact Sheet

Erik Edward Nordman Ph.D. et al. — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:47:40 PDT

Citizens Views on Offshore Wind: Benefits, Challenges, and Information Gaps

Erik Edward Nordman et al. — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:41:30 PDT

Offshore Wind Energy: Public Perspectives and Policy Considerations

Erik Edward Nordman — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:38:51 PDT

Relative resistance of willow and poplar biomass production clones across a continuum of herbivorous insect specialization: Univariate and multivariate approaches

Erik Edward Nordman et al. — Tue, 31 May 2011 12:59:36 PDT

Short-rotation woody crops (SRWC) are being developed as a sustainable system that simultaneously produces a renewable feedstock for bioenergy and bioproducts and a suite of environmental and rural development benefits. However, damage from defoliating insects can significantly reduce the yield of SRWC and negatively impact their sustainability. Information regarding the relative resistance to defoliation of different SRWC clones is not only useful for deployment and breeding choices, but can also help elucidate ecological patterns of herbivore specialization. Laboratory feeding bioassays tested the resistance of 19 willow (Salix spp.) and six poplar (Populus spp.) biomass production clones to feeding by seven common folivorous insects. Defoliation was measured using a leaf area meter and results were standardized according to leaf area consumed per insect per day. Significant differences in resistance were found among clones (p ≤ .05). The most folivore-resistant groups included the six poplar clones and willow clones SH3, SP3, S546 and S625. Willow clones with S. eriocephala or S. dasyclados parentage were generally less resistant to herbivory than those with other parentages. Comparisons of univariate and multivariate approaches found that the multivariate techniques are robust and conservative, and provide an efficient means of screening a large number of clones in a development program. The multivariate approach provided a clearer sorting of folivores along a continuum of insect specialization. Such sorting may be useful in selecting model folivores to use in tree genetic improvement screening systems to efficiently reveal which clones are more likely to be resistant to multiple insect pests.

The science of ecological economics: A content analysis of Ecological Economics, 1989–2004

Valerie Luzadis et al. — Tue, 31 May 2011 12:54:26 PDT

The Ecological Economics journal is a primary source for inquiry on ecological economics and sustainability. To explore the scholarly pursuit of ecological economics, we conducted a content analysis of 200 randomly sampled research, survey, and methodological articles published in Ecological Economics during the 15-year period of 1989– 2004. Results of the analysis were used to investigate facets of transdisciplinarity within the journal. A robust qualitative approach was used to gather and examine data to identify themes representing substantive content found within the span of sampled journal papers. The extent to which each theme was represented was counted as well as additional data, such as author discipline, year published, etc. Four main categories were revealed: (1) foundations (self-reflexive themes stemming fromdirect discussions about ecological economics); (2) humansystems, represented by the themes of values, social indicators of well-being, intergenerational distribution, and equity; (3) biophysical systems, including themes, such as carrying capacity and scarcity, energy, and resource use, relating directly to the biophysical aspects of systems; and (4) policy and management encompassing themes of development, growth, trade, accounting, and valuation, aswell as institutional structures andmanagement. The results provide empirical evidence for discussing the future direction of ecological economic efforts.

Incorporating Acquisition Costs in Forestland Open Space Programs: Lessons from Conservation Biology and Applications

Erik Edward Nordman et al. — Tue, 31 May 2011 12:44:08 PDT

The tools for cost-effective biodiversity conservation are well documented, but rarely implemented. These tools for prioritizing candidate properties can be used for managing forestland open space programs. We reviewed the benefit targeting, benefit score– cost ratio, binary linear programming (BLP), and benefit-loss– cost targeting approaches. A case study in Brookhaven, New York, showed that more conservation benefits are secured by using prioritization techniques that include acquisition costs. The acquisition costs for all properties were estimated using a hedonic model of public open space purchases. The benefit score– cost ratio approach does not guarantee an optimal portfolio of open space properties determined by BLP, but results in more cost-effective choices than benefit targeting and is more flexible than BLP. Forest resource managers have broad interdisciplinary training and are well suited to implementing cost-effective forestland conservation techniques.

Offshore Wind Energy: Public Perspectives and Policy Considerations

Erik Edward Nordman — Tue, 31 May 2011 12:38:05 PDT

Wind energy can be harnessed to produce electricity through two different types of facilities: onshore and offshore developments. Onshore wind projects typically include a group of wind turbines constructed on land – in coastal, forested or agricultural areas with strong winds. Very similar wind turbines can also be constructed offshore in lakes or the ocean. Currently, most offshore wind turbines are mounted on cement foundations or driven into the sea floor in areas where water depths do not exceed 100 feet.

While there are currently no offshore wind farms located in North America, that may soon change. Offshore projects have been proposed for locations along North America’s Eastern Seaboard and in the American and Canadian waters of the Great Lakes. North American residents, including Michiganders, have many questions regarding offshore wind energy. This report examines social issues related to offshore wind, including public acceptance, visibility, noise and tourism. The final section reviews wind policy and regulatory issues in Michigan.

This brief summarizes peer-reviewed journal articles and technical reports about offshore wind developments. Future issue briefs will examine environmental, economic and technological issues.

Part III: Social Dimensions of Offshore Wind Energy Development

Erik Nordman Ph.D. et al. — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 07:27:40 PDT

The deployment of thousands of wind energy facilities required to meet various renewable energy targets will bring changes to the nation’s landscapes, communities, and economies.

The intent of this integrated assessment project is to comprehensively analyze the benefits and challenges to wind energy development in one particular region of coastal West Michigan, including Oceana, Muskegon, Ottawa and Allegan counties.

By combining science and public participation, our integrated assessment will empower citizens and local governments to make informed decisions about wind energy facilities in their communities. Our project will enhance local capacity to mitigate conflicts surrounding wind energy development, and will help Michigan achieve its ten-percent renewable energy target in a manner that is environmentally, economically, and socially appropriate.

This report is a result of work sponsored by the Michigan Sea Grant College Program (#3001274549) under Federal Grant Number NA05OAR4171045 from National Sea Grant, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce, and funds from the State of Michigan.

Part I: Policy Dimensions of Offshore Wind Energy Development

Erik Nordman Ph.D. et al. — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 07:27:39 PDT

The deployment of thousands of wind energy facilities required to meet various renewable energy targets will bring changes to the nation’s landscapes, communities, and economies.

Part II: Environmental Dimensions of Offshore Wind Energy Development

Erik Nordman Ph.D. et al. — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 07:27:37 PDT

The deployment of thousands of wind energy facilities required to meet various renewable energy targets will bring changes to the nation’s landscapes, communities, and economies.

Wind Energy Glossary: Technical Terms and Concepts

Erik Edward Nordman — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:49:54 PDT

The terms in this glossary are organized into three sections: (1) Electricity Transmission Network; (2) Wind Turbine Components; and (3) Wind Energy Challenges, Issues and Solutions.

Wind Power and Human Health: Flicker, Noise and Air Quality

Erik Edward Nordman — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:48:06 PDT

The second of a series of wind energy issue briefs synthesizes the state of the science around wind energy siting issues like flicker and noise, and analyzes how West Michigan communities are addressing these challenges. The issue brief also assesses how wind energy could improve air quality and human health outcomes in West Michigan and the region.

Wind Energy Deployment: Global Lessons for West Michigan

Erik Edward Nordman — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:46:18 PDT

This first of series of issue briefs summarizes the factors that have influenced wind energy deployment across the country and around the world. It also brings the lessons home to West Michigan's coastal zone.

Status and Trends of Wind Energy Development - Fact Sheet

Erik Edward Nordman — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:43:46 PDT

The West Michigan Wind Assessment project team is comprehensively analyzing the benefits and challenges of wind energy development in coastal West Michigan, including Oceana, Muskegon, Ottawa and Allegan counties. This fact sheet summarizes the findings of their first report, Status and Trends of Wind Energy Development in West Michigan. Additional reports will examine potential impacts from a variety of perspectives and evaluate policy options for minimizing conflicts. For more information or to access the full report, please visit the project web site: www.gvsu.edu/wind.