Criticizing Wind Energy Is For The Birds
By Jenn Breckenridge
Filed Under Green Living |
Massive wind turbines are being built all around the US to generate emissions-free energy to relieve our carbon saturated atmosphere. Wind power seems like a near-perfect solution to our energy woes until you hear about the slew of aviary casualties that result from wind towers each year. Owls, hawks, and raptors alike experience brutal death by turbine and some avian advocates are up-in-arms. Just how many birds are murdered each year by windmills? Here’s some perspective…
- Tall Buildings: 100 million-1 billion birds per year
- Electrical Lines: 130-174 million birds per year
- Cars and Trucks: 60-80 million birds per year
- Agricultural Pesticide: 67 million birds per year
- Domestic Cats: 100+ million birds per year
Where do wind farms in the US factor into this macabre statistical round-up? 40,000 birds per year ”Yes, if a bird flies into the spinning blade of a wind turbine, than it will probably be killed, but when sited properly, the number of birds killed is greatly reduced,” stated Mike Adams, Wind Power Advocate for NY Wind.
Experts of both wind energy and wildlife advocacy groups seem to agree. “The first rule of avoiding negative impacts is a familiar adage: location, location, location,” said Betsy Loyless, Senior Vice President of the Audubon Society. The latest report from the National Academy of Sciences recognizes that properly-sited wind power holds great promise as a source of renewable energy that can reduce global warming pollution. If we don’t find ways to reduce global warming pollution, far more birds and people will be threatened by climate change than by wind turbines.”
Currently the US averages 1-2 bird deaths per turbine per year. One turbine produces 4,000 MWh of energy per year. Two million pounds of coal would need to be burned to produce the same amount of energy, and would also effectively produce 8.5 million cubic lbs. of carbon in the process…bummer. It may be time for wind energy naysayers to consider that their own little Fluffy or Mr. Mittens may be a greater threat to the US bird population than a megawatt wind turbine, and that maybe, just maybe, they could just let the 1-2 casualties per year just fly.
Posted on April 11, 2008 |
Comments
2 Responses to “Criticizing Wind Energy Is For The Birds”
Leave a Reply
-
Buy eCo Products
I think Altamont Pass is the spot!
[...] Sadly, there will be no way to make them beautiful nor to make them perfectly safe for people or wildlife. [...]