An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
A life saving bill, H.R. 2337, is being discussed to day by a Congressional Committee. Your support is urgently needed. The American Wind Industry's powerful lobby is attempting to block it by calling it anti-wind. It is not.
What this vital bill calls for is proper planning, adherence to existing laws like the Endangered Species Act and critical studies and monitoring of chosen sites to prevent unnecessary harm to wildlife.
Why should the wind industry be above environmental laws that protect birds, bats, endangered species?
Did you know that it is illegal to possess a feather, an egg or a nest of any migratory bird much less to kill one, harass or harm it in any way? Possession of even a feather can result in a fine from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and even a jail sentence. Why, because people used to kill birds for their feathers and the only way to stop it is to stop the trafficking by passing and enforcing laws against it.
Migratory birds are protected from harm by state, federal and international treaties. There is the migratory bird treaty act, the bald eagle act, the endangered species act and the lacy act. Violation of any of these can result in criminal prosecution.
Have you ever applied for a mortgage or wanted to build a house? If so, then you know there are all kinds of regulations, zoning, laws and ordinances you must follow. And you must wait until all criteria are met before you can buy or build.
Developers must also adhere to laws, zoning and regulations. Why should an industrial wind farm developer be any different?
Why should the wind industry be allowed to circumvent the laws no matter what benefits are promised by their development?
Senator Rahall has just introduced H.R. 2337 into congress that will see that these laws are not only followed but enforced when it comes to the siting of wind turbines. Why? Because wind turbines in the wrong locations kill millions of migratory birds and bats each year.
This is a new industry with a poor environmental track record. While just one study from Denmark, a major exporter of wind turbines, suggests birds avoid wind turbines, world-wide empirical evidence and scientific study suggest otherwise.
As a wildlife rehabilitator for over twenty-five years and the founder and president of a not for profit organization devoted to the survival and protection of birds of prey, I am a part of a world-wide network that collects data on wildlife mortality and threats to birds.
The study from Denmark, used by the wind industry to debunk the growing evidence of bird mortality at wind farms is outdated, faulty, industry biased and misleading. It is nearly impossible to count dead birds at sea. They simply fall into the water never to be seen again. Just think how difficult it is to find a person in the water, much less a bird. As to radar studies, until they are improved, their findings are simply not good indicators as most birds are not seen on the radar screens at all, especially in conditions of fog and rain.
The wind farm at Altamont Pass in California is one of the most notorious killers of birds, especially raptors (eagles, hawks, falcons and owls) thousands of them die there each year including Golden Eagles. The wind industry attempts to dismiss this as a problem of the past due to the age of those wind turbines. And they state the new turbines have no such problem as their blades move more slowly and do not kill birds.
However, this is false. The state of the art turbines are killing birds and bats by the millions. And those numbers are growing.
Those slow moving turbine blades are merely an optical illusion. These modern blades are longer than the size of a football field and only appear to be turning slowly. In fact, the blades are traveling at over 200 miles per hour at their tips.
One prime example of a modern state of the art wind farm that disproves the wind industry's claim of no hazard to birds at newer wind farms is the Smola Wind Farm off the coast of Norway. That brand new wind farm wiped out the entire breeding population of the endangered White-tailed (sea) Eagle in less than ten months, including all of their babies.
The researchers, who conducted the original pre-wind farm studies for the Cape Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts, concluded there would be no threat to birds. However that same industry funded research team also concluded there would be no threat to birds and bats at a brand new wind farm in New York.
After one year of post construction research, by the same team, they now estimate up to 6,000 birds and bats have been killed there in one year.
When wind farms are placed in migratory flyways and endangered species habitats it is a recipe for disaster.
According to Donald Michael Fry, PhD, the Director of the Pesticides and Birds Program at the American Bird Conservancy, testimony to the House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans Oversight Hearing on: "Gone with the Wind: Impacts of Wind Turbines on Birds and Bats":
"The mortality at wind farms is significant, because many of the species most impacted are already in decline and all sources of mortality contribute to the continuing decline."
"The wind energy industry has been constructing and operating wind projects for almost 25 years with little state and federal oversight. They have rejected as either too costly or unproven techniques recommended by NWCC to reduce bird deaths. The wind industry ignores the expertise of state energy staff and the knowledgeable advice of Fish and Wildlife Service employees on ways to reduce or avoid bird and wildlife impacts."
Surely a growing industry that claims to be environmentally friendly would want to live up to that mission, applicable laws and not cause significant harm to wildlife.
Senator Rahall's proposed H.R. 2337 which is in his words "not anti-wind" but would allow "this industry to grow in a manner that is compatible with federal laws such as the Endangered Species Act".
I urge any nature loving person to support Senator Rahall's Bill. There is a critical hearing today. Calls to your representatives will help.
Our wildlife are losing ground and they desperately need your help.
The following is a list of key representatives on the committee:
Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Phone # in DC: (202) 225-6311Fax, email: (202) 226-1606, Jay.Inslee@mail.house.govPeter DeFazio (D-OR)Phone in DC: (202) 225-6416Fax, email: 202-225-0032 http://www.house.gov/formdefazio/contact.htmlEd Markey (D-MA) Phone in DC: 202-225-2836John Sarbanes (D-MD)Phone in DC: (202) 225-4016Fax, email: (202) 225-9219, http://sarbanes.house.gov/issue_subscribe.htmlGrace Napolitano (D-CA)Phone in DC: 202-225-5256Fax, email: 202-225-0027, http://www.house.gov/napolitano/feedback.htmRon Kind (D-WI)Phone in DC: (202) 225-5506Fax, email: (202) 225-5739, http://www.house.gov/kind/contact.shtmlLois Capps (D-CA)Phone in DC:(202) 225-3601 Fax, email: (202) 225-5632. http://www.house.gov/capps/contact/send_an_email.shtmlRaul Grijalva (D-AZ)Phone in DC:(202)225-2435Fax, email: (202)225-1541, http://www.house.gov/writerep/
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Comments: 33
I appreciate y our comments.
The birds have been surviving since way before man arrived on this earth. Whether we realize it or not we depend on the web of life in order to survive ourselves. Man is not an island. We shouldn't have to sacrifice our wildlife in order to have sustainable energy. The challenge is to do both. We are technically capable of sending man into space, surely we can figure this one out.
As to regulations I think Mr. Fry sums it up:
"The wind energy industry has been constructing and operating wind projects for almost 25 years with little state and federal oversight. They have rejected as either too costly or unproven techniques recommended by NWCC to reduce bird deaths. The wind industry ignores the expertise of state energy staff and the knowledgeable advice of Fish and Wildlife Service employees on ways to reduce or avoid bird and wildlife impacts."
The American Wind Energy Association recognizes species protections and enforcement of the same as called for in this bill as obstacles. The AWEA is working very hard to pave the way for thier industry, and against this bill.
Please make a call to Representative Ed Markey (D-MA) Phone in DC: 202-225-2836, and tell the party that answers that you want him to act in the interest of the voiceless, not the industry that is ready to indiscrimininately site wind towers in migratory paths, and avoid prosecution for breaking the laws that protect endangered species.
The House Resource Hearing is today. The voiceless and endangered species are completely dependent on us to act in their interest.
Michael Boyd-President of CALifornians for Renewable Energy stepped up with the Center for Biological Diversity, Golden Gate Audubon, and four other Audubon chapters and filed suit against, (to enforce endangered species protections), over the deaths of thousands of birds, including endangered Golden Eagles, by wind towers at Atamont, CA, APWRA.
This bill, H.R. 2337 Title II; Subtitle D; introduced by Chairman of HR Rahall, gives the power to FWS to enforce species protection laws.
Please contact Ed Markey's office today as he needs to be convinced that our obligation is to enforce the laws if we are to be considered a civilized society. Mr. Markey, by all indications, is taking the AWEA position, against our efforts to protect endangered wildlife. He needs to know that we care about wildlife.
From Michael Boyd of CARE:
"The total number of birds killed in the APWRA is unknown, but estimates of 10,000 - 20,000 birds during the past two decades are supportable (Orloff and Flannery 1992, 1996; Thelander et. al 2002; Developing Methods to Reduce Bird Mortality in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area - Dr. Smallwood & K. Thelander, Aug. 2004). Because of the lack of enforcement authority for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, however, these significant adverse impacts will continued to be ignored and no protection measures or management programs are in place that will reduce these fatalities, despite years of research and widespread acknowledgement of the problem. How could this happen?"
Thank you, Dona, for your tireless dedication and good will toward our feathered friends and wildlife.
http://digg.com/environment/Possible_Ban_on_Wind_Energy_Why
It's clear to me this bill isn't about endangered species.
"The wind energy industry has been constructing and operating wind projects for almost 25 years with little state and federal oversight. They have rejected as either too costly or unproven techniques recommended by NWCC to reduce bird deaths. The wind industry ignores the expertise of state energy staff and the knowledgeable advice of Fish and Wildlife Service employees on ways to reduce or avoid bird and wildlife impacts."
Where did my post go?
Oh By the way, on that 6,000 you mentioned... You should have looked into that better. Since when did a wind generator use pellet guns and .22's? As most of the dead birds and bats there were foujnd to have been killed by?
Have you read the study? Obviously not or you wouldn't write such a blatant untruth and nonsense. Do go back to sleep.
with love from canada !
PS: This fake discution is poorly done guys. I'm shure that you can do better than that ! (in reference to the first posts)
ps: the fake discution is poorly done guys...
But just so you know, as a rough example, building a home made windmill that generate 3.5 Kilowatt per hours can cost around 300$ with one or 2 day of hand work ! 300$ in one shot against 20$ per month for eternity... I say this is kind of free energy !
Did you know that maintaining windfarms is virtualy costless on the long run, compared to coal, gas, nuke generation plans. And most of all, WIND DOES NOT COST A DIME. Where gas, coal and uranium cost alot and will cost more and more by the years. And think about managing nuclear waist that already costing billions of dollars per years ! All these fee are diverted to your monthly bill.
Unless we choose "free energy", our energy will cost more and more by the years... And we will destroy the environment more and more !
But to return to the bird saving problem. I dont thing it is as deadly as proposed by this bill. As of now, I dont know about any serious and independant (un-bias) study that prove that windmills kills millions of birds. Are willing to "finance" the bird preservation on the word of some lobbyist ? Are you willing to let go the possibility of a lower monthly energy bill in order to save some birds ?
You have to look at the whole picture, at first hand, all the energy big-shots will lose money if we have a windfarm boom. At second hand you'll have some bird dying... And in the result, your monthly bill will be lower and we will pollute less and less the environment we living in.
with love from canada
ps: "free energy" (where "free" come from a free and always renewing source).
Gaz, coal and uranium are the not free energies because they must be processed, and once used, they generate waist that is not reusable by any mean.
I faxed a letter to the members of the House Committee on Natural Resources today, asking them to support H.R. 2337. I'm keeping my fingers crossed -- it's high time the Endangered Species Act had some muscle, otherwise, why was it passed in the first place? Do keep us posted if you have any updates.
Have you read the study? Obviously not or you wouldn't write such a blatant untruth and nonsense. Do go back to sleep. "
This is one of the reasons I don't come here much any more. The morons thaty think they have some inklings of a brain, like to throw this shit out, and when they are called on it, they go into attack mode without any evidence of what the hell they are talking about.
You wrote in case you don't remember:
"Oh By the way, on that 6,000 you mentioned... You should have looked into that better. Since when did a wind generator use pellet guns and .22's? As most of the dead birds and bats there were foujnd to have been killed by? "
And so I ask, did you read the study???
The AWEA hysteria over the possibility that endangered species protections will hold your industry accountable for the unacceptable number of deaths of endangered species by wind towers adds insult to injury. H.R. 2337 Title II Subtitle D.
Check out the campaign for the voiceless ongoing.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977021733
Your solution, wind energy, represents no more than a panacea for profit, and a shift of wealth from citizens to your industry.
The blood of endangered species is on your hands as your industry's actions have blessed their slaughter by eroding their protections-for profit.
Don't bother responding to me with more of your hype. I am in close contact with the parties of Altamont, CA. Michael Boyd-President of CAlifornian's for Renewable Energy, The Center for Biological Diversity, Golden Gate Audubon and four other Audubon chapters.
"In the case of Golden Eagles killed on the APWRA the carcasses are in the freezer at the USFWS with a known point of collection. Despite the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA), 16 U.S.C. § 668 penalty of $500,000 per Golden Eagle killed. With over a hundred Golden Eagles a year being killed in the APWRA, HR 2337 should be amended as follows to insure the enforcement authority of USFWS to establish compliance with the requirements of BGEPA, ESA, MMPA, NEPA, and MBTA." Michael Boyd of CARE
Location, location, location, and Nantucket Sound is an endangered species habitat and migratory flyway, just like Altamont, CA.
Sincerely,
Barbara Durkin
CC; Dona Tracy raptor specialist
"Representatives Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) successfully amended the troublesome language of H.R. 2337, negotiating a positive outcome for the wind energy industry in the ongoing situation concerning legislation introduced by Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) that in its original form would have brought the wind energy industry to a grinding halt.
The amended language passed without opposition in an early voice vote taken in the House Natural Resources Committee. The Rahall-Markey substitute language removed the provision that would burden wind energy with an onerous new certification process and criminalize operation of any wind turbine not certified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The amended language codifies the path the industry is already working toward: development of a federal advisory body, known as the Wind Turbine Guidelines Advisory Committee, that will bring together the experts needed to understand how wildlife and habitat impacts from wind projects can be minimized in a way that does not unnecessarily restrain the development of clean, emissions-free wind energy.
During the committee hearing, DeFazio voiced his concern that wind energy should not be singled out among all other energy sources in this manner. The provision still contains certain language that is of concern to AWEA, as it appears to single out the wind industry as a target for special scrutiny.
"We turned around what was a very bad provision," said AWEA Legislative Director Jaime Steve.
The overall bill is intended to be the Committee's contribution to what is to become a broader energy bill that would be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives at a later date. AWEA stressed that the wind provision is unlikely to become law in the long-run, given that some Senators have already indicated they are not interested in pursuing this kind of wind provision."
Environmental organizations that support inanimate objects over wildlife don't deserve our financial support.
The Sierra Club is apparently prepared to ignore their own wind tower siting guidelines when it comes to Cape Wind. Mr. Pope of the Sierra Club recently told Cape Cod Today, "This is a good project, and as long as it is built within the guidelines being developed by the ongoing process, we will support it."
While, the Sierra Club opposes wind projects that are proposed for areas that are "Not Appropriate" "Critical habitat for Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species or habitat for indigenous species critical to a region or state's biodiversity."
There are many documented endangered species in Nantucket Sound that are critical to the region's biodiversity. Federally endangered roseate terns, threatened piping plovers, federally endangered sea turtles, protected marine mammal species, federally regulated finfish and shellfish are present in Nantucket Sound. According to MA Audubon's website, New England's largest population of overwintering Bald Eagles is present in Nantucket Sound.
Mr. Pope of the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, ABC, MA Audubon, and others appear to be willing to ignore their own wind tower siting guidelines that each has developed or ascribed to in response to unacceptable bird kill by wind towers by their support of Cape Wind.
And, they are not alone...
MA Audubon is a self appointed Cape Wind reviewing agency whose scientists arrived at up to 6,600 avian mortalities per year by Cape Wind. Coincident with their press release "Challenge", Dr. Taber Allison of MA Audubon has denied their staff scientists' testimony on bird kill to the USACE to the press.
What is most alarming is that MA Audubon's Website states that during their guided tours across Nantucket Sound, participants have the opportunity to see New England's largest concentration of overwintering Bald Eagles.
I have not found any reference made by MA Audubon to endangered (in Massachusetts) Bald Eagles' presence in Nantucket Sound in MA Audubon's testimony to the USACE or MMS regarding Cape Wind, where it matters most.
There is no incidental take allowed for this Endangered species in Massachusetts.
Is it a coincidence that MA Audubon forgot to mention them other than on their Website? As they fail to disclose any financial interest in the outcome of the Cape Wind permit application as a self-appointed project reviewing agency, they merit serious scrutiny.
I doubt that their members understand that they have denied their own testimony on bird kill to the USACE as they promote Cape Wind while their scientists' have arrived at avian mortalities of up to 6,600 birds per year by Cape Wind.
Where are the advocates for endangered species?
We have endangered species now at grave risk due to biased science and our lacking vigilance.
MA Audubon fails to disclose if they have a financial interest in a $multi-million dollar monitoring contract as a self appointed reviewing agency involved in the Cape Wind permit application process. The terms of their "Challenge" press release refer to this $multi million dollar contract as an Adaptive Management Plan. It is a very lucrative contract. MA Audubon is an agency participating in a permitting process that by all appearances stands to financially benefit by the outcome of the Cape Wind permitting process.
I am signed up with One.org, Care2.org and Best Friends in Utah, they send petitions via email to help these causes for the animals.l