Wind Power Threatens Eagle Population: Save the Wind Turbines or the Eagles?
SodaHead News
2011/08/17 15:00:00
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With great power comes great sacrifice. Take wind power, for instance. California has been working hard to get away from fossil-fueled electricity by turning to wind power, the fastest growing part of the state's green energy portfolio.
But, according to Fox News, environmental advocates, of all people, are up in arms because protected species of eagles, hawks and owls have become the unintended victims of this green dream.
"The cumulative impacts are huge," said Shawn Smallwood, described by Fox as "one of the few recognized experts" studying the impact of wind farms on migratory birds. "It is not inconceivable to me that we could reduce golden eagle populations by a great deal, if not wipe them out."
With around 2,500 golden eagles, California's largest wind farms kill, on average, more than 80 of the birds a year. The state is planning to triple its wind capacity as it tries to become the first to generate one-third of its electricity from clean energy by 2020.
State officials say they would prefer to have no dead birds, but the desire to balance all the needs of society means that some birds might become victims. A similar problem has occurred in the Bay Area at the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area, a state-approved wind farm built with federal tax credits, that reportedly kills 4,700 birds annually. One way Smallwood said they could cut down that kill ratio in half is by replacing smaller, older turbines with larger blades.
But, according to Fox News, environmental advocates, of all people, are up in arms because protected species of eagles, hawks and owls have become the unintended victims of this green dream.
"The cumulative impacts are huge," said Shawn Smallwood, described by Fox as "one of the few recognized experts" studying the impact of wind farms on migratory birds. "It is not inconceivable to me that we could reduce golden eagle populations by a great deal, if not wipe them out."
With around 2,500 golden eagles, California's largest wind farms kill, on average, more than 80 of the birds a year. The state is planning to triple its wind capacity as it tries to become the first to generate one-third of its electricity from clean energy by 2020.
State officials say they would prefer to have no dead birds, but the desire to balance all the needs of society means that some birds might become victims. A similar problem has occurred in the Bay Area at the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area, a state-approved wind farm built with federal tax credits, that reportedly kills 4,700 birds annually. One way Smallwood said they could cut down that kill ratio in half is by replacing smaller, older turbines with larger blades.
Top Opinion
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Lynn 2011/08/17 19:00:02
Nuclear power and figure out how to do fusion... that's the answer, not breezes and sunshine.
Also the whole point of the windmills is to be "green", so if this green technology is killing birds that kind of ironic to say the least. I don't know of any cases where eagles have been killed by a US commercial nuclear power plant.
FYI: I've heard the genesis of the microwave oven is technicians working on those antenna's realized that something put in front would get hot, and they would put hot dogs on sticks and hold them right in front of the antenna horn to cook them.
So many half-baked plans these days.
And I'm sure we'll soon see the people asking why we value birds over planet preservation.
I laugh at the irony already.
Wind Turbines are as yet one of the stupidest wastes of money, space and effort of any "green technology"; the amount of energy generated rated against the expenditures and the ability to store and move the energy captured is outright laughable.
And the windustry keeps growing all because our administration hates coal...
87,000 birds are killed each year: By Airplanes....
So ban your cats indoors and ban flying, they kill birds and that is all that matters damn you!!!!!
SpacelySprockets will fund the event.