[BCNnet] Wind Energy Policy

[Donald R. Dann]

Judy Pollock began this discussion with a link to the NJ Audubon's extensive
recommendations on wind energy, and Evan Craig of the Sierra Club and Terry
Schilling both weighed in emphasizing the overall benefit of wind vs. fossil
fuels to humans and birds.

Gerald Winegrad of the American Bird Conservancy helped form a Wind Energy
Working Group in DC with the Ornithological Council and Defenders of
Wildlife.  Their first meeting was held July 24 the following was proposed.
- Review existing data/studies
- Monitor future studies
- Bring before the group the best science and scientists on the issue of the
location, operation, and monitoring of wind turbines and their impacts to
birds
- To discuss and assess the policies of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
other federal agencies, and the states
- To discuss and assess the guidance, fact sheets, and other documents
issued by the National Wind Coordinating Committee
- To examine avian impacts of wind turbines on ridges and off-shore
- To take such action, individually or collectively, to promote policies and
practices that will reduce avian mortality associated with wind turbines.
Meanwhile, here is ABC's draft paper on the subject.  Note that in the first
main heading, I., the overall environmental benefits of wind power are
emphasized.
Donald R. Dann
Highland Park/Lake County

DRAFT 		DRAFT		DRAFT		DRAFT	         DRAFT
   AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY WIND ENERGY POLICY
Birders, ornithologists, and conservationists are currently debating whether
to fully support the rapidly growing construction of wind turbines to
generate clean electricity from a renewable source. But concerns have
surfaced over the potential threat to seabirds from off shore projects and
to other migratory birds from projects on high ridges. ABC is increasingly
called upon for information on bird impacts from wind turbines and is
assisting in the formation of a Wind Energy Working Group of scientists and
conservationists to assure that the location, construction, and operation of
wind turbines does not adversely impact  birds.  ABC's policy on wind energy
follows. It emphasizes that before construction proceeds of new wind energy
projects, thorough site analyses for bird abundance, migration and use
patterns should be conducted and design, operation, and lighting should be
carefully worked out to prevent the potential for significant bird
mortality. Habitat and avian disturbance issues also should be examined.

I.  ABC SUPPORTS CLEAN, RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY INCLUDING WIND POWER.
ABC fully supports the development of wind energy in the U.S. as an
alternative to fossil fueled power plants to meet the current and growing
demand for electrical energy.  Over one-half the nation's electrical
production now comes from coal burning.  Power generated from fossil fuels,
such as coal, generates global warming gases and nitrogen and sulphur
pollutants, all of which have impacts on birds.  In addition, the extraction
of coal, oil and natural gas also impacts avian species.  For example,
mining operations are expected to impact significant amounts of high quality
Cerulean Warbler habitat.  The subsequent loss of an additional 10-20% of
this Warbler's global population is projected exclusively from direct, and
very likely permanent, habitat destruction from coal mining operations. ABC
and other conservation groups have submitted comments opposing one of these
mountain top mining projects by the Tennessee Valley Authority at Braden
Mountain, Tennessee.  The TVA estimated a potential loss of over 100
breeding pairs of Cerulean Warblers at this single mining operation.  ABC
believes wind power seems a good choice for generating more of our nation's
electricity.

II.  ABC SUPPORTS THE PROPER SITING OF WIND TURBINES TO PREVENT AVIAN
MORTALITY AND CRITICAL HABITAT IMPACTS.  Very careful consideration must be
given to each specific site for wind turbine projects.  The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service guidelines for communication towers published in September
2000 provide siting guidelines to minimize avian mortality and are helpful.
The U.S. FWS is planning on releasing guidelines for wind turbine siting and
operation in the near future and ABC will review those and may incorporate
them into our policy.  Siting wind turbines along sea coasts where slower
flying, larger seabirds could be killed could create problems for seabirds.
The construction and planning in the eastern U.S. of wind turbines on ridges
where birds migrate have raised concerns from ornithologists and birders.  A
thorough review for potential avian mortality and disturbance of critical
habitat should be conducted for each new wind turbine farm.
A.  AVOIDING AVIAN MORTALITY.

1) Siting Review.  As recommended by the National Wind Coordinating
Committee (NWCC), surveys should be conducted before wind turbines are
approved or constructed that would entail both on-site observations of birds
on a seasonal basis (e.g., bird passage during spring and fall migration),
as well as more detailed evaluation of the use of the site by birds,
particularly of species of concern. Although some recommend 2-years of
pre-construction survey work (because of annual variations in animal
abundance and behavior), one year (once in each season, fall, winter,
spring, summer) is considered a minimum for identifying potential problems.
There are two basic steps that should be followed when reviewing sites for
bird abundance and migration patterns.
First, biologists conduct a literature review, talk to people knowledgeable
about the area, and do on-site reconnaissance surveys to document major
vegetation types and likelihood of wildlife issues. These
reconnaissance-level surveys are used to eliminate sites that have a
likelihood of showing negative wildlife impacts following development, and
conversely, identifying sites that would likely be suitable for development.
After potentially suitable sites are located, a second level of more
intensive surveys are initiated, if warranted, that quantify wildlife,
especially bird, use of the proposed sites. These follow up surveys are
necessary because reconnaissance surveys are "quick and dirty" and do not
provide the level of understanding and detail needed for siting a wind farm,
nor siting individual turbines. In other situations, such as for Golden
Eagles at Altamont Pass in California, even more intensive research studies
are indicated (i.e., population level studies). Because of the newness of
wind turbines located off shore and the potential problem for seabirds and
waterfowl, and the growing number of turbines proposed and operating along
ridges, these more intensive research studies prior to approval are
necessary.
The U.S. FWS guidelines issued for communication towers state: "If
significant numbers of breeding, feeding, or roosting birds are known to
habitually use the proposed tower construction area, relocation to an
alternate site should be recommended."  The Avian Subcommittee of the NWCC
has prepared several guidance documents on siting wind farms in the context
of potential impacts to wildlife. In the guidance document sponsored by the
National Wind Coordinating Committee (Anderson et al., 1999. Studying wind
energy/bird interactions: a guidance document. National Wind Coordinating
Committee, Washington, DC. 87 pp), metrics and methods for determining or
monitoring potential impacts on birds at existing or proposed wind farms are
outlined. This is a consensus document as it was developed by government,
university, and industry participants. You may obtain the National Wind
Coordinating Committee document: Studying Wind Energy/Bird Interactions: A
Guidance Document, December 1999 with siting guidelines detailed to avoid
avian mortality by calling 202-965-6398 or visiting www.nationalwind.org.
 2) Minimize Lighting.  We also believe from experience with communication
towers, a high priority to prevent bird mortality would be to limit lighting
on wind turbine towers. Any structure over 200' must be lit for aviation
safety. The lights seem to cause problems for birds during bad visibility
conditions at night. Only a few wind turbines in a project should be
individually lit, any lighting should be white strobe, and the pulse rate
should be no more than twenty pulses of light per minute. The U.S. FWS
guidelines for communication towers provide siting guidelines to minimize
avian mortality from lighting and are helpful.  Any related structures
should not be lit unless absolutely required under FAA regulations as these
lights may attract birds to their deaths.
B.  HABITAT REVIEW. Also to be reviewed and considered are habitat
fragmentation, avian disturbance, and avian site avoidance from the direct
construction and operation of the wind turbines, roads, transmission
facilities, and other related construction.  While conducting the avian
surveys and gathering the data for avian impacts as mentioned above, direct
and indirect habitat and disturbance factors need to be thoroughly reviewed
at each site of a wind turbine project.  Disturbance of critical habitat for
birds and other species is to be avoided, and all habitat disturbance or
fragmentation should be reviewed.

III.  SAMPLING FOR AVIAN MORTALITY SHOULD BE REQUIRED. Statistically robust
sampling for avian mortality should be required for the operational life of
the turbines. Permits should specify how many days monitoring is done, at
how many towers, at what time each day of monitoring, for how long each day,
at what radius around the turbine, and whether any monitoring is to be done
outside of spring and fall migration. The approval process should require
that this data be made available to the public.  Any turbine that causes
significant avian mortality should be shut down until assurances are had
that the operation will not continue to kill birds.

VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT <http://www.abcbirds.org> to learn more about
communication towers and birds and to view our Tower Kill Report