March 8, 2013
A wind energy company is seeking federal approval to kill several bald eagles each year within the Mississippi River Flyway in southeastern Minnesota in the process of providing intermittent wind power for local electricity consumers.
Eight to 14 Kills Each Year
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) officials report the proposed New Era Wind Farm will likely kill between eight and 14 bald eagles each year, in addition to numerous other protected birds and bats.
USFWS officials say wind farm operators may be able to reduce the number of anticipated bird and bat deaths through such measures as shutting down the wind turbines during migratory seasons and when birds and bats congregate in the area. Such measures, however, would reduce the efficiency of the wind turbines, which already fall short of efficiency and cost comparisons with conventional electricity generation….
Renewable Mandates Kill Wildlife
“Minnesota has added a significant amount of wind energy in the past few years, and this growth was primarily driven by the state renewable mandate,” said Todd Wynn, director of the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force at the American Legislative Exchange Council.
“Unfortunately, policymakers often overlook the consequences of these mandates,” Wynn explained. “Beyond bird deaths, renewable mandates are the death knell for Minnesota’s economy, which will see higher electricity rates and lower job growth by forcing more expensive, less reliable energy onto the state’s electricity grid.” To Read More….
My Take - Can you imagine what would happen if one coal fired power plant made such a request? My question is this; did you read this in your newspaper? Did you see this on the news? Did the green movement have a public protest over this? If not.....why not?
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