Energy in America: Dead Birds Unintended Consequence of Wind Power Development

[YankeeFan]

Conservationists vs. Environmentalists:

As California attempts to divorce itself from fossil-fueled electricity, it may be trading one environmental sin for another -- although you don't hear state officials admitting it.

Wind power is the fastest growing component in the state's green energy portfolio, but wildlife advocates say the marriage has an unintended consequence: dead birds, including protected species of eagles, hawks and owls.

"The cumulative impacts are huge," said Shawn Smallwood, 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."

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/08/16/energy-in-america-dead-birds-unintended-consequence-wind-power-development/#ixzz1VEZ9hvtD

 

[Beaker]

Wind turbines kill about 10,000-40,000 birds a year, whereas cats kill hundreds of millions (as do power lines):

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/wind-turbine-kill-birds.htm

 

[Bubbler]

Aflockalypse now!

 

[PeterGibbons]

Wind turbines kill about 10,000-40,000 birds a year, whereas cats kill hundreds of millions (as do power lines):

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/wind-turbine-kill-birds.htm

according to this website 100million to 1 billion a year are killed by windows... wow, never knew birds were that dumb

 

[Mystery Meat II]

How many are killed by Boise State's football field?

 

[Point of Order]

 

[Azrael]

We need to ask the Avian Advocacy Desk at Fox News how many birds died in last year's Gulf oil spill.

 

[YankeeFan]

Wind turbines kill about 10,000-40,000 birds a year, whereas cats kill hundreds of millions (as do power lines):

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/wind-turbine-kill-birds.htm

according to this website 100million to 1 billion a year are killed by windows... wow, never knew birds were that dumb

Between 100 million and 1 billion?

Why not just say between 1 and a trillion?

 

[YankeeFan]

We need to ask the Avian Advocacy Desk at Fox News how many birds died in last year's Gulf oil spill.

Good question.

But, it's pretty clear other energy companies have been fined for killing birds

In 2009, Exxon pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of about 85 migratory birds in five states that came into contact with crude oil in uncovered waste tanks. The fine for this was $600,000.

Likewise, PacifiCorp, an Oregon utility, owed $10.5 million in fines, restitution and improvements to their equipment after 232 eagles were killed by running into power lines in Wyoming.

Why is nothing being done here?

 

[Big Circus]

As usual, the Onion has isolated the problem. At least Congress is working on it.

This article ****ing killed me.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/congress-passes-first-law-in-us-history-that-doesn,21045/

 

[Azrael]

We need to ask the Avian Advocacy Desk at Fox News how many birds died in last year's Gulf oil spill.

Good question.

But, it's pretty clear other energy companies have been fined for killing birds

In 2009, Exxon pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of about 85 migratory birds in five states that came into contact with crude oil in uncovered waste tanks. The fine for this was $600,000.

Likewise, PacifiCorp, an Oregon utility, owed $10.5 million in fines, restitution and improvements to their equipment after 232 eagles were killed by running into power lines in Wyoming.

Why is nothing being done here?

Perhaps because the company in question agreed to a settlement with conservationists last year. Including new turbines.

http://www.dbune.com/news/business/2366-company-to-replace-california-wind-turbines-to-stop-bird-deaths.html

The final settlement requires NextEra Energy Resources to construct its new turbines in areas that will not harm birds, bats and other wildlife. It will shutter all its existing turbines by 2015, three years before it is required to do so under the permits from the county.

The agreement is not an admission of guilt on the part of the firm, which is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, the parent company of Florida Power & Light. Nonetheless, it must pay $2.5 million in mitigation fees, half to the state Energy Commission and half to regional parks for raptor habitat creation.

Death from old and poorly located wind turbines is only one among many causes of bird deaths, including habitat destruction, poaching, climate change and the use of pesticides. Migratory birds face a similar risk from collisions with buildings and bright lights from tall structures.

 

[YankeeFan]

Why can't you let me have my fun?

Neener, neener?

 

[Armchair_QB]

We need to ask the Avian Advocacy Desk at Fox News how many birds died in last year's Gulf oil spill.

Good question.

But, it's pretty clear other energy companies have been fined for killing birds

In 2009, Exxon pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of about 85 migratory birds in five states that came into contact with crude oil in uncovered waste tanks. The fine for this was $600,000.

Likewise, PacifiCorp, an Oregon utility, owed $10.5 million in fines, restitution and improvements to their equipment after 232 eagles were killed by running into power lines in Wyoming.

Why is nothing being done here?

Perhaps because the company in question agreed to a settlement with conservationists last year. Including new turbines.

http://www.dbune.com/news/business/2366-company-to-replace-california-wind-turbines-to-stop-bird-deaths.html

The final settlement requires NextEra Energy Resources to construct its new turbines in areas that will not harm birds, bats and other wildlife. It will shutter all its existing turbines by 2015, three years before it is required to do so under the permits from the county.

The agreement is not an admission of guilt on the part of the firm, which is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, the parent company of Florida Power & Light. Nonetheless, it must pay $2.5 million in mitigation fees, half to the state Energy Commission and half to regional parks for raptor habitat creation.

Death from old and poorly located wind turbines is only one among many causes of bird deaths, including habitat destruction, poaching, climate change and the use of pesticides. Migratory birds face a similar risk from collisions with buildings and bright lights from tall structures.

How do they know the new turbines won't kill any wildlife? I understand they can track migratory patterns and all that but that doesn't mean the turbines are animal-friendly.

 

[Azrael]

How do they know the new turbines won't kill any wildlife? I understand they can track migratory patterns and all that but that doesn't mean the turbines are animal-friendly.

Among other things, the new blades turn much more slowly. The old blades spun like a blender.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2010/12/06/wind-turbines-to-be-upgraded-in-altamont-pass/

Steve Stengel, a spokesman for NextEra, said the newer, slower moving wind turbines are far less harmful to birds. And since each new turbine is more efficient, fewer of them will be needed to generate the same amount of power.

“These new turbines do not have lattice towers where birds can perch, which was a problem with the older models,” Stengel said.

Years of studying the effects of the turbines at Altamont on local birds will also help the company choose better spots on which to build the new turbines, Stengel said.

 

[Bob Cook]

How do they know the new turbines won't kill any wildlife? I understand they can track migratory patterns and all that but that doesn't mean the turbines are animal-friendly.

Among other things, the new blades turn much more slowly. The old blades spun like a blender.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2010/12/06/wind-turbines-to-be-upgraded-in-altamont-pass/

Steve Stengel, a spokesman for NextEra, said the newer, slower moving wind turbines are far less harmful to birds. And since each new turbine is more efficient, fewer of them will be needed to generate the same amount of power.

“These new turbines do not have lattice towers where birds can perch, which was a problem with the older models,” Stengel said.

Years of studying the effects of the turbines at Altamont on local birds will also help the company choose better spots on which to build the new turbines, Stengel said.

The turbines at Altamont? Is this guy sure that the birds haven't been killed by Hell's Angels?

 

[Azrael]

"I told you not to go backstage, man. I told you."

 

[WolvEagle]

The geniuses in one of our cities along a river decided to install wind turbines near the water, though the area is not known for wind. Well, the river is a major migratory flyway. Hence, there have been many birdicides.

Geniuses - absolute geniuses.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

Oh, come on. Is there not a way to put screens around the turbines to prevent bird v. blade encounters? This can't be that complicated. Have none of these people ever seen a box fan?

 

[93Devil]

Cars kill birds, too, but the Koch Brothers want you to buy oil, so their puppet groups won't attack them.

 

[Mystery Meat II]

Everybody chill the **** out.

He's got this.