Bird Unfriendly Wind Farms
Three Wind Energy Projects Proposed or in Place that Threaten Birds
Wind turbines are popping up in many countries - so is opposition to these alternative energy projects that threaten birds.
Wind energy projects tend to put the environmentally minded at odds with themselves. On one hand, wind turbines reduce the need to burn coal, oil, and gas, all of which have a detrimental effect on the environment on various levels; on the other hand, the spinning blades of wind turbines kill many many birds, wind farms damage fragile habitat, and turbines spoil views. The answer to the dilemma seems to be thorough environmental assessments of sites where wind farms are proposed, to determine the likely impact on the ecosystem.
More wind farms, and the debates that surround them, are appearing in the news. Here are three wind projects to watch:
Altamont Pass, USA – a notorious California wind farm where about 4800 turbines have done more to alienate bird conservationists from wind energy than any other. The project is located in a major bird flyway and in prime habitat for Golden Eagles. Hundreds of Golden Eagles die there every year--between 800 and 1300 birds of prey altogether.
Law suits have been launched to try to force the company to reinvent Altamont Pass and make it more bird friendly. Relocating turbines, replacing particularly lethal turbines, making turbines more visible to birds, and trying to lure rodent prey away from turbines have all been suggested. Small advances have been made but environmentalists are far from satisfied and the dispute rages on.
Lake Erie, USA – Cuyahoga County, Ohio, is considering building between 4 and 10 wind turbines three miles out in Lake Erie. A task force recommending the turbines has also recommended that the county obtain an expert assessment of the probable impact on the ecology. Scientists have commented on the difficulty of gathering data on bird mortalities over open water.
European countries have already built a number of wind farms in coastal ocean areas. Studies of bird behavior indicate that seabirds are not greatly impacted by the turbines and mostly avoid them.
Western Isles, UK – a proposal to build the world’s largest wind farm on the Isle of Lewis has alarmed many environmentalists and local residents. The project would erect more than 200, 40-story wind turbines in an area of peatland, fragile habitat that is sure to be seriously damaged by construction of the turbines. Bird habitat and mortality caused by spinning blades are both at issue. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds judges the location to be one of the worst possible choices for a wind energy project.
Related content:
Sources:
Altamont Pass
Monroe, Wllie. "Suit May Help Save Birds At Altamont Pass." ABC7/KGO-TV/DT: Jan 11, 2007
Center for Biological Diversity. "Fact Sheet on Altamont Pass Bird Kills."
Lake Erie
McClellan, April. "Turbines Pose Risk to Birds, Biologist Says." The Plain Dealer: Jan 24, 2007.
Danish Wind Industry Association. "Birds and Offshore Wind Turbines." 2003
Western Isles
Owen, James. "Plan for World's Largets Wind Farm Generates Controversy." National Geographic News: Oct 31, 2005.
