The CO 2 -benefit accounts for the main part of the total environmental benefits. The reason for this difference is that CO 2 -emissions from coal power is twice the level as from natural gas power. Noise and visual effects from wind mills has been examined by interviewing persons living close to existing wind mills. The valuation has been carried out using the contingent valuation method. A check of the result has been calculated using the so-called house price method.
Emphasis is put on the result from the contingent valuation method.
The interview survey only includes persons living close to wind mills. If people in general were included, the result might be different. Due to the significant uncertainty with respect to the estimated CO 2 -abatement costs those figures are of course uncertain too. The power plants only produce electricity - not combined heat and power. If it is possible to utilize the production of heat, the environmental benefits from wind power will be reduced.