Type of Document	Master's Thesis
Author	Duerksen, Alek Charles
Author's Email Address	duerksen@vt.edu
URN	etd-10032011-163038
Title	A Feasibility Analysis of Wind Power as an Alternative Post-mining Land Use in Surface Coal Mines in West Virginia
Degree	Master of Science
Department	Mining and Minerals Engineering
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Westman, Erik Christian Committee Chair Adel, Gregory T. Committee Member Karfakis, Mario G. Committee Member Spurgeon, Paul A. Committee Member
Keywords	wind energy mining reclamation post-mining land use sustainability
Date of Defense	2011-09-19
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract Surface coal mining in West Virginia has supplied energy to the eastern coast of the United States for over a century. Over the years, the coal mining industry has been forced to adapt as societal demands regarding health, safety, and environmental impacts have changed. More recent pressure has called for another iteration of change: long-term post-mining sustainability. The research presented in this thesis investigates one potential solution—or component of a solution—to improve the sustainability of surface coal mining in West Virginia: post-mining wind power. This thesis intends to demonstrate and explain the feasibility of synergistic mine closure and wind development. Wind conditions at three reclaimed mine sites in West Virginia were monitored in order to develop representative case studies for post-mining wind power. This report contains a summary of the literature consulted to plan the site assessments, the methodology employed to execute them, the analysis steps undertaken to derive conclusions, and a discussion of all findings. This research has found that significant cost savings can be yielded from synergistic mine closure and wind development, as compared to greenfield wind development. Though wind conditions themselves remain the primary driver for site feasibility, post-mining wind power is a practice with significant promise for improving project economics, contributing to renewable energy development, enhancing company-community relations, providing local employment opportunities, and exemplifying sustainable business practices in Appalachia.
Files	Filename       Size       Approximate Download Time (Hours:Minutes:Seconds)     28.8 Modem   56K Modem   ISDN (64 Kb)   ISDN (128 Kb)   Higher-speed Access    Duerksen_AC_T_2011.pdf 9.87 Mb 00:45:40 00:23:29 00:20:33 00:10:16 00:00:52   Duerksen_AC_T_2011_Copyright.pdf 26.21 Kb 00:00:07 00:00:03 00:00:03 00:00:01 < 00:00:01

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