[BCNnet] Sun-Times article: Bird Watchers Comfortable (with 10new
wind turbines in Chicago)
DRD
donniebird at yahoo.com
Tue Jan 24 16:08:18 CST 2006
BCN friends,
On this issue it's important to recognize that the choice is not wind or
nothing--our society, even with increased energy efficiency, demands a
steadily growing supply of electricity. The question we must all ask
ourselves is: if not wind, then what sources of energy should we use?
Environmental Impacts of Electricity Sources
WIND NUCLEAR COAL OIL* NATURAL GASWind
Nuclear Coal Natural Gas
Global Warming Pollution None
None Yes Yes
Yes
YYeses YYes
Air Pollution None
None Yes Yes
LimitedYLes Limited
Mercury None
None Yes Yes
None
Mining/Extraction None
Yes Yes Yes
YesYes
Yes Yes
Waste None
Yes Yes YesYes Yes None
Habitat Impacts Yes
Limited to waste Yes Yes Yes
*Foreign policy considerations are significant.Ye
*to YYesesLs LiLLmited
Yes Yes
According to a paper prepared for the 2002 International Partners in Flight
conference, of every 10,000 human-related bird deaths in the U.S. today,
wind plants cause less than one, and if wind power were developed to the
same extent as hydropower today (6% of U.S. power supply), of every 10,000
human-related bird deaths in the U.S. today, wind plants would cause 9.
(Some of this material came from the American Wind Energy Association, an
obviously biased source but the readers can judge yourselves as to its
validity as well as what is the more bird-friendly energy source).
But whether you agree or not that wind turbines are a preferred energy
source, all birders should realize that increasing numbers of wind turbines
are inevitable. We can stand on the sidelines and rail against them, or we
can be a positive force in the debate by urging that they be properly
designed and sited in areas where the least possible bird mortality will
result.
Donnie Dann
Highland Park/Lake County
donniebird at yahoo.com
_____
From: bcnnet-bounces at ece.iit.edu [mailto:bcnnet-bounces at ece.iit.edu] On
Behalf Of antlitz at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 11:38 AM
To: BCNnet at ece.iit.edu
Subject: Re: [BCNnet] Sun-Times article: Bird Watchers Comfortable (with
10new wind turbines in Chicago)
I wonder what the risk of wind turbines might be for Henslow's sparrows and
other grassland nesting birds who don't necessarily appreciate lots of tall
objects looming in their habitat.
-----Original Message-----
From: Randi Doeker - Chicago <rbdoeker at yahoo.com>
To: BCNnet at ece.iit.edu
Sent: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 07:57:55 -0600
Subject: [BCNnet] Sun-Times article: Bird Watchers Comfortable (with 10 new
wind turbines in Chicago)
Interestingly, the reporter apparently doesn't know about the 5+ wind
turbines planned for the middle of Lincoln Park (by the South Pond).
Also - FYI - In recent weeks I have sat through two very serious
presentations that explained that Illinois will become the wind farm capital
of the country. The financial incentives for farmers statewide to allow
big-blade turbines on their land are huge; the local governments are even
more financially excited. We already know from too much experience that
once the financial investment has been made to install the turbine and the
locals start receiving their free-money, there is no way to take down a
turbine. (They only took action in California because of the dead eagles.
I'm guessing our turbines will wipe out the whooping cranes that migrate on
their own.)
Per the environmental-community turbine proponents: IL is NOT on a migratory
bird flyway. Thus, there are no birds that fly over Illinois that could fly
into the turbines. (I have been told this so many times I want to puke.)
Randi Doeker
Chicago
PS: For those who may be confused - "migratory bird flyway" is a term that
references the geographic dividing lines of the relevant wildlife management
agencies. It does not reference specific flight paths that the FAA has
designated for avian flight.
.................
City planners to give wind machines a whirl
January 24, 2006
BY GARY WISBY <javascript:parent.ComposeTo('gwisby at suntimes.com');>
Environment Reporter
- Sun-Times
Wind power is coming soon to the Windy City.
But don't look for propellers mounted on poles. Chicago's wind machines will
be thrust up into the breeze on the shoulders of its buildings.
This spring, planners said Monday, two wind turbines will be mounted on the
Daley Center, and eight more on a Helmut Jahn-designed building on the Near
North Side.
Plans to place turbines on the Museum of Contemporary Art for its "Massive
Change" exhibit, opening in September, are in the discussion stage.
Bird watchers comfortable
The projects will provide answers about how practical and affordable wind
power can be here, said Sadhu Johnston, the city's environment commissioner.
Some day, turbines could be on top of commercial and residential buildings
all over Chicago, he said.
His department is putting together an "urban wind map" to see what areas of
the city have the most potential.
The two turbines on the Daley Center will supply only a small portion of the
building's energy needs. Together they will produce enough power for four
households.
"We're monitoring the equipment," Johnston said. "As soon as that's done and
the weather breaks, we'll be up there."
Renewable power sources such as wind and solar are pollution-free
alternatives to fossil fuels and nuclear energy, he noted.
Ground has been broken for Jahn's Near North SRO, a single room occupancy
building near Cabrini-Green. Bil Becker, the turbine's designer and
manufacturer, said he's been told "the roof will be ready in April or May."
Becker, a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and CEO of
Aerotecture Ltd., calls his device an "aeroturbine." It's a 20-foot-long,
5-foot-wide horizontal cylinder containing a helical plastic sheet that
catches the wind. "It's almost like a DNA structure, or like a twisted
sail," he said.
Although wind turbines with propellers kill birds, Chicago birder groups are
comfortable with the aeroturbine.
Recent studies show that a conventional turbine kills up to 7.5 birds a
year. But Donnie Dann, president of the Chicago-area Bird Conservation
Network, said, "This design is as close to zero as they can get."
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