Land use

The leasing of land for wind turbines can benefit landowners in the form of increased income and land values. But in some cases, wind power development may create land conflicts. In forested areas, these developments may mean clearing trees and cutting roads. And near populated areas, wind projects may run into opposition from people who regard them as unsightly and noisy.

Wind developers are using stakeholder consultation and careful project planning to address potential siting and environmental concerns.

Geothermal power plants take up little land area and do not produce wastes. But depending on the technology used, they may also have environmental impacts.

Geothermal power plants exploit hot, underground fluid, which consists of mostly steam and small amounts of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, methane and ammonia. The amounts of chemicals released when geothermal fields are tapped can be hazardous or objectionable to people living and working nearby.

In the United States, where geothermal power generation is increasing, governments have established requirements for the removal of hydrogen sulphide from geothermal emissions.

Drawing water from the ground for power generation may also cause rock formations at the site to compact, leading to land subsidence and settling.