A recent estimate by the Wildlife Society Bulletin states that over 573,000 birds are killed every year by America's wind farms, 83,000 of which are birds of prey such as eagles, hawks, and falcons. Although a number of other forces are responsible for greater numbers of avian deaths, Wind farms are special in that due to their popularity among current government leaders and environmentalists, wind companies are not required to disclose the exact number of deaths or even do anything about it. Almost all of the birds killed are protected under federal environmental laws, but even when the companies voluntarily disclose the statistics the Obama administration keeps the information from the public eye. This is due to the "possible implication of ongoing enforcement investigations". Such lack of concern for our protected species of birds is rooted in the push for renewable and non-fossil fuel energy sources, in the hope that wind energy will be portrayed as a perfect replacement for "dirty" energy sources. This treatment of the problem is expected to continue, as the government has proposed a rule that would give the companies permission to apply for permits that would allow the killing of protected eagles and other birds of prey. There have, however, been solutions to the mass killings. Duke energy, the owner of a number of Wyoming wind farms, has proposals to decrease the death rate and liability involved. They encourage workers to drive slower around eagle nests, remove prey and dead animals that may attract the eagles, and are considering installing warning devices on their wind towers in order to scare the birds away from the turbines. All of these solutions are still on the table but risk a lack of enforcement due to a lack of government regulation or personal accountability on a larger scale. I find this issue extremely interesting due to the fact that even the "miracle" energy source of wind power can have an environmental impact and destroy habitats, let alone our national icon. Furthermore, I believe the government should require the exact numbers to be reported and disclosed to the public, and present solutions such as proposed by Duke Energy which seem effective and creative. Friday, July 5, 2013
Wind Farms Kill Birds of Prey
A recent estimate by the Wildlife Society Bulletin states that over 573,000 birds are killed every year by America's wind farms, 83,000 of which are birds of prey such as eagles, hawks, and falcons. Although a number of other forces are responsible for greater numbers of avian deaths, Wind farms are special in that due to their popularity among current government leaders and environmentalists, wind companies are not required to disclose the exact number of deaths or even do anything about it. Almost all of the birds killed are protected under federal environmental laws, but even when the companies voluntarily disclose the statistics the Obama administration keeps the information from the public eye. This is due to the "possible implication of ongoing enforcement investigations". Such lack of concern for our protected species of birds is rooted in the push for renewable and non-fossil fuel energy sources, in the hope that wind energy will be portrayed as a perfect replacement for "dirty" energy sources. This treatment of the problem is expected to continue, as the government has proposed a rule that would give the companies permission to apply for permits that would allow the killing of protected eagles and other birds of prey. There have, however, been solutions to the mass killings. Duke energy, the owner of a number of Wyoming wind farms, has proposals to decrease the death rate and liability involved. They encourage workers to drive slower around eagle nests, remove prey and dead animals that may attract the eagles, and are considering installing warning devices on their wind towers in order to scare the birds away from the turbines. All of these solutions are still on the table but risk a lack of enforcement due to a lack of government regulation or personal accountability on a larger scale. I find this issue extremely interesting due to the fact that even the "miracle" energy source of wind power can have an environmental impact and destroy habitats, let alone our national icon. Furthermore, I believe the government should require the exact numbers to be reported and disclosed to the public, and present solutions such as proposed by Duke Energy which seem effective and creative. 
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