What it means. Short for "in my backyard," IMBY inverts the more established NIMBY—a person who opposes developments that will detract from their neighborhood with a hearty "Not in my backyard!" declaration. A combination of practicality and altruism sees IMBYs favoring projects other neighbors find dangerous, dingy, or otherwise undesirable.
Why the buzz? Whooshing wind-turbine blades have become one of the leading edges of IMBYism, as homeowners install residential wind-power systems and communities allow large wind power companies to site wind turbine complexes on public land. In 2008, an estimated 48 billion kilowatt hours of electricity will be generated in the United States, enough to power 4.5 million households. (Big wind farms in Texas, California, and other wide-open states still produce most of the nation's wind power.)
But the small-wind-turbine market—defined as systems that produce from 1 to 100 kWh—grew 15 percent in 2007, according to the American Wind Energy Association, and wind generators are moving from small systems that charge batteries on sailboats and recreational vehicles to ones powering individual homes, farms, and small businesses in suburban and even urban settings.
Even arbiters of style are into wind, as evidenced by this August 6, 2008 story in The New York Times about designer Philippe Starck's ultramodern rooftop turbine.
But some critics see the wind-backing IMBYs as more selfish than selfless. On August 18, the Times ran a cover story entitled "In Rural New York, Windmills Can Bring Whiff of Corruption", which detailed numerous conflicts between neighbors (and some conflicts of interest among politicians) swirling around wind turbine placement.
Across the U.S., NIMBYs complain that wind turbines mar vistas and reduce animal habitat when built in low-population areas and offshore sites; in urban areas, they're rapped as merely loud and unaesthetic. Animal lovers protest the fact that bats and birds can fly into their rotating blades. (Visit www.stopillwind.org and www.windtsop.org for more arguments, and AWEA's FAQ page for some counterarguments.)
Ron Stimmel, small-wind advocate at AWEA, doesn't argue aesthetics. But on the noise front, he cited test results showing that from a distance of 300 feet, a Bergey Windpower 10 kW BWC Excel wind system like the one pictured at right generated a 54 to 55 decibels of sound with the wind blowing 25 mph. (Wind turbine noise will usually fall under your local municipality's general noise-limit ordinances, so check them before you begin pricing a wind energy system.)
Stimmel also cited a National Academy of Sciences study showing that wind turbines cause just three out every 100,000 human-caused bird deaths. But the study also reads: "While estimation of avian fatalities caused by wind-power generation is possible . . . it is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of the incremental contribution of wind-powered generation to cumulative bird deaths in time and space at current levels of development." Bat fatality data, the report notes, are even sparser.
But if sales are any indication, more IMBYs are getting behind the small wind movement despite these concerns. Stimmel also urged Congress to extend federal tax credits (similar to the current 30 percent tax credit on solar-energy systems) to help defray a backyard wind turbine's $12,000 to $60,000 cost.
At the local level, Arizona, California, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Vermont are offering additional tax rebates or credits that will help continue to fuel small-wind installations—to the relief of some residents, and the resentment of others.—Daniel DiClerico
Essential information: Learn more about local utility and state rebates and tax credits for alternative energy systems and how to purchase wind-generated and other green power that's fueling an explosion in "green-collar" jobs. Also, read our report on Neighbor Disputes in the September 2008 issue of Consumer Reports for advice on keeping up relations with the Joneses across a wide range of possible disputes.
The ratings for wind power devices are only when a significant wind is blowing. These conditions does not exisit for continuous periods in many places. And electrical energy cannot be efficiently stored at the present time. So backup power must be provided for the full net requirements. Not a very good solution to a requirement for reliable power.
"he cited test results showing that from a distance of 300 feet, a Bergey Windpower 10 kW BWC Excel wind system like the one pictured at right generated a 54 to 55 decibels of sound with the wind blowing 25 mph."
OMG! That's like someone having a quiet conversation 10 feet away from you! I can't imagine the deafening roar one would experience once they were inside their house.
After having stood approximately 50 feet from a whole farm of turbines on a recent trip to Ontario with the wind blowing between 20-25 mph, I can tell you that anyone who claims that turbines are noisy is crazy. I could barely hear the "whoosh whoosh" of the blades over the background of light car traffic passing on a nearby road. And these were turbines that produce 1.8 MEGAwatts, not the smaller kilowatt scale ones mentioned here.
Also, the arguments about wildlife impacts are all bunk. They all studied Altamont Pass in California which is a prime example of how NOT to build a wind farm. Admittedly, it was completed in the early 1980's when people knew almost nothing about wind power, but needless to say a lot has been learned since then. Every modern turbine is spaced much farther apart than those at Altamont. Also, the Altamont turbines have a lattice structure supporting them which encourages birds to stop and perch, thus increasing the risk that they will run into the blades. Modern turbines have a single mast with no place for birds to sit, further reducing the chance for collisions.
I'd like to propose sighting a coal or nuclear power plant in these opponents backyards. Then they might actually use their heads in deciding what to oppose.
Whoever wrote this article is truly an idiot. It is still NIMBYism. It doesn't matter whether or not the developer is a "neighbor" or a large international corporation, the haters will still try to stop anything and everything.
Ben, I live 300 feet from a neighbors "barely audible" wind turbine. 55 decibels is a lot louder than you may think. We fully supported our neighbors wind turbine. So in this case NIMBY does not apply. What I can honestly say after living with this thing is life is hell. We have had decibel readings in our home as high as 63 db. We had no clue how damaging constant noise for days at time could be. Siting all turbines safe distances from homes is critical. Turbines throw noise differently and on a cold winter night they are much louder than 55 db. And for all those who support wind energy, yes it has significantly damaged our property value. You can't sell a house that isn't safe for children to sleep in. Before you think 55 decibels is acceptable ambient noise for sleeping, check out the WHO's recommended community noise levels. The wind industry uses people like you to further their cause and to lie to innocent families causing serious damage. I know because I am living it everyday,while you can get in your car and leave. Standing 50 feet from a turbine for short time doesn 't give you a real idea of what they are like. I don't know where you live but you are welcome to come and see what "barely audible" is really like. Windy energy is only going to be great when all stand together to have safe setbacks that allow wind to do its job without harm to anyone.
Large installations are quieter because they have larger blades that spin at lower rpm. The smaller generators have smaller blades that turn faster, thus generating much more vibrational noise.
I am in favor of wind generators, but there should be a buffer zone around them. My municipality has a regulation that there must be a buffer zone around the generator at least equal to the height of the tower (though admittedly this was written to protect neighboring properties in case the tower was blown down).
55 dBa seems pretty excessive to me. Around 35 dBa would probably be acceptable, unless the noise was especially high pitched.
And there's alot more bird and bat deaths caused by lights being left on overnights in buildings than by being hit by wind turbines, and turning the lights off is a much easier (and environmentally friendly) solution.
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