Wind Fences, Domes, and Tree Barriers: Difference between revisions
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Coal dust can be effectively mitigated with infrastructure, especially wind fences and domes. Wind fences and domes are used in hundreds of locations across the U.S. and around the world. Wind fences and domes are commercially available, can be installed while terminals continue their regular operations, and cost a fraction of a percent of the profits of the companies that operate the coal terminals in Hampton Roads.<ref>Repair Lab, [[:File:Wind Fences and Domes Report Repair Lab 2024 (corrected).pdf|Coal Dust in Southeast Newport News Is a Nuisance and There Are Solutions]], August 2024.</ref> | Coal dust can be effectively mitigated with infrastructure, especially wind fences and domes. Wind fences and domes are used in hundreds of locations across the U.S. and around the world. Wind fences and domes are commercially available, can be installed while terminals continue their regular operations, and cost a fraction of a percent of the profits of the companies that operate the coal terminals in Hampton Roads.<ref name=":1">Repair Lab, [[:File:Wind Fences and Domes Report Repair Lab 2024 (corrected).pdf|Coal Dust in Southeast Newport News Is a Nuisance and There Are Solutions]], August 2024.</ref> | ||
== Wind Fences == | == Wind Fences == | ||
Wind fences reduce windblown [[Particulate matter and coal dust|dust]], also known as fugitive [[Particulate matter and coal dust|dust]], by acting as a windbreak.<ref>WeatherSolve, [https://www.weathersolve.com/our-resources/wind-fence-types-and-effects/ Wind Fence Types and Effects].</ref><ref>Dust Solutions Inc., [https://nodust.com/solutions/wind-fence/ Wind Fence Dusttamer™ Systems].</ref><ref>City of Oak Creek, [[:File:021219 Plan Commission Minutes.pdf|Wisconsin, Minutes from the Plan Commission Meeting]], February 12, 2019.</ref> The wind fence is constructed upwind of the source, slowing winds as they pass over the coal storage piles (or similar materials). This causes less dust to be uplifted to the atmosphere and, therefore, carried by winds into adjacent neighborhoods. Wind fences are made of fabric panels affixed to steel or aluminum posts. | Wind fences reduce windblown [[Particulate matter and coal dust|dust]], also known as fugitive [[Particulate matter and coal dust|dust]], by acting as a windbreak.<ref>WeatherSolve, [https://www.weathersolve.com/our-resources/wind-fence-types-and-effects/ Wind Fence Types and Effects].</ref><ref>Dust Solutions Inc., [https://nodust.com/solutions/wind-fence/ Wind Fence Dusttamer™ Systems].</ref><ref>City of Oak Creek, [[:File:021219 Plan Commission Minutes.pdf|Wisconsin, Minutes from the Plan Commission Meeting]], February 12, 2019.</ref> The wind fence is constructed upwind of the source, slowing winds as they pass over the coal storage piles (or similar materials). This causes less dust to be uplifted to the atmosphere and, therefore, carried by winds into adjacent neighborhoods. Wind fences are made of fabric panels affixed to steel or aluminum posts. | ||
'''Wind fences are effective:''' Wind fences have been shown to reduce dust emissions by 70–86% | '''Wind fences are effective:''' Wind fences have been shown to reduce dust emissions by 70–86% on average.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
'''Wind fences are widely used technology:''' Wind fences are a common industry technology to mitigate dust around the world. The Repair Lab compiled data on global wind fence use, finding more than 70 locations were using wind fences to reduce dust specifically for coal or petcoke in the U.S. and globally. There are also more than 100 additional locations using wind fences for dust mitigation from the storage of grain, dry clay, clinker, paper, gypsum, limestone, construction, copper, nickel, nitrate, soda ash, bauxite, gold, solar, and steel. | '''Wind fences are widely used technology:''' Wind fences are a common industry technology to mitigate dust around the world. The Repair Lab compiled data on global wind fence use, finding more than 70 locations were using wind fences to reduce dust specifically for coal or petcoke in the U.S. and globally.<ref name=":1" /> There are also more than 100 additional locations using wind fences for dust mitigation from the storage of grain, dry clay, clinker, paper, gypsum, limestone, construction, copper, nickel, nitrate, soda ash, bauxite, gold, solar, and steel. | ||
'''Costs are negligible compared to company profits:''' Wind fences are commercially available and can be constructed while the terminals continue to operate normally. Wind fence cost estimates of $4–30 million. | '''Costs are negligible compared to company profits:''' Wind fences are commercially available and can be constructed while the terminals continue to operate normally.<ref>Email correspondence with Richard Posner, President of Dust Solutions Inc., April 24, 2024.</ref> Wind fence cost estimates of $4–30 million. | ||
Put into context, Dominion Terminal Associates is a subsidiary of Alpha Metallurgical Resources, which reported $4.1 billion in revenue and $1.45 billion in profits in 2022. Kinder Morgan reported $19.2 billion in revenue and $9.95 billion in profits in 2022. A $4–30 million wind fence is <1% (0.04–0.26%) of their combined 2022 profits and 0.02–0.13% of their combined 2022 revenue. | Put into context, Dominion Terminal Associates is a subsidiary of Alpha Metallurgical Resources, which reported $4.1 billion in revenue and $1.45 billion in profits in 2022.<ref>[https://fintel.io/doc/sec-alpha-metallurgical-resources-inc-1704715-10k-2023-february-23-19412-7529 United States Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-K for Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Inc.], December 31, 2022.</ref> Kinder Morgan reported $19.2 billion in revenue and $9.95 billion in profits in 2022.<ref>[https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/KMI/kinder-morgan/revenue Kinder Morgan Revenue 2010–2025 | KMI].</ref> A $4–30 million wind fence is <1% (0.04–0.26%) of their combined 2022 profits and 0.02–0.13% of their combined 2022 revenue. | ||
For a person making $50,000 per year, this is equivalent to $9–64 from one year's wages to protect their community. | For a person making $50,000 per year, this is equivalent to $9–64 from one year's wages to protect their community. | ||
Revision as of 18:37, 2 May 2025
Coal dust can be effectively mitigated with infrastructure, especially wind fences and domes. Wind fences and domes are used in hundreds of locations across the U.S. and around the world. Wind fences and domes are commercially available, can be installed while terminals continue their regular operations, and cost a fraction of a percent of the profits of the companies that operate the coal terminals in Hampton Roads.[1]
Wind Fences
Wind fences reduce windblown dust, also known as fugitive dust, by acting as a windbreak.[2][3][4] The wind fence is constructed upwind of the source, slowing winds as they pass over the coal storage piles (or similar materials). This causes less dust to be uplifted to the atmosphere and, therefore, carried by winds into adjacent neighborhoods. Wind fences are made of fabric panels affixed to steel or aluminum posts.
Wind fences are effective: Wind fences have been shown to reduce dust emissions by 70–86% on average.[1]
Wind fences are widely used technology: Wind fences are a common industry technology to mitigate dust around the world. The Repair Lab compiled data on global wind fence use, finding more than 70 locations were using wind fences to reduce dust specifically for coal or petcoke in the U.S. and globally.[1] There are also more than 100 additional locations using wind fences for dust mitigation from the storage of grain, dry clay, clinker, paper, gypsum, limestone, construction, copper, nickel, nitrate, soda ash, bauxite, gold, solar, and steel.
Costs are negligible compared to company profits: Wind fences are commercially available and can be constructed while the terminals continue to operate normally.[5] Wind fence cost estimates of $4–30 million.
Put into context, Dominion Terminal Associates is a subsidiary of Alpha Metallurgical Resources, which reported $4.1 billion in revenue and $1.45 billion in profits in 2022.[6] Kinder Morgan reported $19.2 billion in revenue and $9.95 billion in profits in 2022.[7] A $4–30 million wind fence is <1% (0.04–0.26%) of their combined 2022 profits and 0.02–0.13% of their combined 2022 revenue.
For a person making $50,000 per year, this is equivalent to $9–64 from one year's wages to protect their community.
Domes
A dome is a fully enclosed structure over the terminal, including the coal storage piles and transloading equipment. A dome can be made of aluminum panels and galvanized steel.
Domes are effective: Because domes enclose terminal storage areas, they contain most if not all coal dust produced through terminal activities.
Domes are widely-used: Domes are a common technology for industrial bulk storage. Domes are used specifically for coal or petcoke storage in at least 19 locations in the U.S. and globally. Domes are also used in over 100 locations that include power plants, grain dealers, mines, cement plants, ports, and other industries which stock large quantities of dry bulk materials.
Costs are negligible compared to company profits: Domes costs range $200–500 (Geometrica), $330–370 (LF-BJMB), and $70–120 (SAFS Steel Structure) per square meter covered. Domes can be constructed while terminals operate regularly.
Tree Barriers
Vegetative barriers, which are rows of trees and bushes, have been used to reduce dust downwind of coal mines and other sources.[8] Tree barriers are more effective when trees are fully grown, with a barrier of fully-grown trees in one location measured to lowered PM10 concentrations by 36%.[9] Multiple rows of trees are more effective than one or two rows, with the type of tree species planted also having an influence.[8] It stands to reason that vegetative barriers are more effective during seasons when there are leaves than in winter.
Funds and labor are required not only for tree planting but also for tree maintenance.
Documents
Wind Fences
Domes
Tree Barriers
- U.S. EPA, Fugitive Dust Background Document and Technical Information Document for Best Available Control Measures, September 1992
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Repair Lab, Coal Dust in Southeast Newport News Is a Nuisance and There Are Solutions, August 2024.
- ↑ WeatherSolve, Wind Fence Types and Effects.
- ↑ Dust Solutions Inc., Wind Fence Dusttamer™ Systems.
- ↑ City of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Minutes from the Plan Commission Meeting, February 12, 2019.
- ↑ Email correspondence with Richard Posner, President of Dust Solutions Inc., April 24, 2024.
- ↑ United States Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-K for Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Inc., December 31, 2022.
- ↑ Kinder Morgan Revenue 2010–2025 | KMI.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Korean Air Grows Forest in Mongolia, The Korea Herald, September 3, 2023.
- ↑ Přikryl, Estimate of vegetation efficiency on reducing dust concentration produced by a surface coal mine. In: Programs and Algorithms of Numerical Mathematics, Proceedings of Seminar. Hejnice, June 24-29, 2018. Institute of Mathematics CAS, Prague, 132–139, 2019.