[BCNnet] BCNnet: Birds better protected from wind turbine dangers through IL Bill

[Birdchris at aol.com]

Full congratulations and thanks go to Randi Doeker for suggesting  this bill 
to her representative, Barbara Flynn Currie of  Hyde  Park. Legislators and 
conservationists really need objective scientific  assessment of the danger of 
turbines to birds and bats and Illinois will lead  the way if this bill is 
passed.
 
It's made it through the house. Call your senator today and urge  passage of 
this important bill.
 
Christine Williamson
Chicago/Cook
birdchris at aol.com




     



HR0943  

LRB094  19677 RSP 56144 r 

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HOUSE  RESOLUTION 


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WHEREAS,  Wind power facilities provide emission-free    
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options to oil-fueled and gas-fueled  power plants and promote    
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the generation of electricity as a  renewable energy resource;    
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and 

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WHEREAS,  Wind energy is a tiny but fast-growing share of    
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U.S. energy; since Congress reinstated a  key tax credit for    
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wind producers, the industry is  poised for rapid expansion in    
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the next year; and  

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WHEREAS, The  growth of renewable energy sources has    
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resulted in 17 states passing laws  requiring that some part of    
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the total electricity used come from  renewable sources such as    
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wind power;  and

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WHEREAS, In  August 2005, the Illinois Commerce Commission     
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adopted Governor Blagojevich's  Sustainable Energy Plan as a    
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voluntary plan, under which  Illinois' utilities would begin     
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acquiring 2% of their electricity  from sources such as wind,    
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solar, and methane captured from  landfills by the end of 2006,    
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ramping up in 1% annual increments  to 8% in 2012; and

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WHEREAS,  Wind power facilities are developing rapidly in    
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Northern and Central Illinois and are planned or under     
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construction in Adams, Boone, Bureau, Carroll, LaSalle, Lee,     
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DeKalb, McLean, Pike, and Stephenson  Counties;  and

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WHEREAS,  Each wind turbine is approximately 213 feet high     
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with a blade diameter of up to 170  feet, and the revolving    
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blades, especially when numbers of  turbines are concentrated    
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into wind farms, pose a danger to  migrating birds, including    
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threatened and endangered species;  and 

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WHEREAS,  Scientists don't know whether wind turbines 

     



HR0943  
-  2 -  
LRB094  19677 RSP 56144 r 

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reduce overall bird populations, but  are concerned that    
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turbines, added to other factors  such as habitat destruction,    
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could result in the species decline;  and 

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WHEREAS, In  some states environmentalists have sued to    
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force turbine owners to take  corrective measures because of the    
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danger to threatened and endangered  species; and 

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WHEREAS, It  is important to recognize the danger of wind    
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turbines to flying birds, and that  corrective measures such as    
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placement of wind turbines away from  the migratory routes of    
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birds can help in reducing bird  mortality; therefore, be it 

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RESOLVED, BY  THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE    
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF  THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that     
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the Department of Natural Resources,  in cooperation with the    
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Illinois Commerce Commission,  conduct a study to assess the    
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danger of wind turbines to birds,  including threatened and    
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endangered species in Illinois, and  report its findings and    
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recommendations to the General  Assembly and the Governor no    
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later than July 1, 2007; and be it  further 

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RESOLVED,  That copies of this resolution be sent to the    
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Director of Natural Resources, the  Chairman of the Illinois    
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Commerce Commission, and the  Governor. 

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