[BCNnet] BCNnet: wind turbine effect on birds and bats needs morestudy

Sun Mar 5 16:56:40 CST 2006

The proposed wind turbines described in this and similar proposals I've seen
are examples of what appears to be terrible siting.  As I have previously
written the American Bird Conservancy, in its white paper, supports wind
turbine technology in principle as a clean energy source and much less
harmful to birds than conventional power sources.  However, they point out
that benign siting is a key condition of that support.  

Here's an email sent to me by Michael Fry, ABC's lead scientist on this
issue, in response to an email I sent him about similar turbines and their
destructiveness to bats.  

Michael Fry <mfry at abcbirds.org> wrote:

Hi Donnie, thanks for the info on the Alberta wind farm.  It was talked
about at the Colorado meeting I was at last month, because of the bat kills.
This is the 4th wind farm with significant kills of migrating bats.  The
turbines are 1.8MW Vestas turbines, with rotor blades about 40-44 meters
long (131-144 feet) and an overall height of about 400 feet.  These are the
standard giant turbines being used for major energy projects, unlike the
small turbines planned for the Chicago buildings.  

I have contacted Dan Boone, the author of the news note that you sent, to
get more information.

Michael

Regards,

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 Birdchris at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2006 3:41 PM
To: bcnnet at ece.iit.edu
Subject: [BCNnet] BCNnet: wind turbine effect on birds and bats needs
morestudy

Sierra Club renewable energy people are starting to talk more on our list
serves about bird and bat safety when it comes to placement of wind
turbines. This was posted up onto one of our list serves.

Christine Williamson

Chicago/Cook

birdchris at aol.com

Windmill project could kill birds and bats, report says
While not opposing the plans, Va. game officials say effects need study

BY REX SPRINGSTON
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER [Roanoke, VA] - Mar 4, 2006

Nineteen big windmills proposed for remote Highland County could
produce "the highest mortality rates in the East" for birds and bats, a
state report says. [This report is available via: 
http://www.vawind.org/Assets/Docs/19301_Hi.pdf .]

But biologists of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, which
produced the report, say the precise effects of the windmills are
unknown because so little research has been done.

"We are not in a position of saying we oppose the project, but we are
simply saying it needs very careful study," said Ray Fernald, manager
of nongame programs for the game department.

Highland New Wind Development, run by Henry T. McBride of Harrisonburg,
is proposing the windmills for two 4,300-foot-high ridges in Highland,
about 150 miles northwest of Richmond.

Each windmill would stand nearly 400 feet tall -- about the height of
the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond. The project would be Virginia's
first major wind farm. Depending on how strong the wind blows, the 19
Highland windmills could produce as much as 38 megawatts of power,
enough on average for 15,000 to 20,000 homes, supporters say.

Highland New Wind is seeking permission from the State Corporation
Commission to build the windmills. As part of that process, state
agencies are reviewing possible environmental effects. The new report
is the game department's review.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Environmental Quality, which
coordinates those state reviews, suspended the review Wednesday until
Highland New Wind responds to issues raised by the game department and
other agencies.

The state Department of Historic Resources, for example, wants a
"viewshed analysis" to show where the windmills would be seen.

Once the company responds, the reviews will continue and documents
reflecting all sides will be passed on to the SCC, said Bill Hayden, a
spokesman for the Department of Environmental Quality.

Hayden said the suspension is not unusual but could cause a delay of
weeks, if not months.

Frank Maisano, a spokesman for Highland New Wind, said the company
would work hard to satisfy the agencies.

"There will be a minimal impact on the environment as a whole, because
it is a wind project," Maisano said.

Much of the game department's 22-page report is a response to a 2005
study by ABR Inc., a consultant for Highland New Wind.

ABR used radar and other means to gauge the abundance of bats and birds
flying at night along the two Highland ridges from mid-August to
mid-October. Bats are nocturnal, and most songbirds migrate at night.

The ABR researchers indicated thousands of birds and bats could be
flying along the ridges during the two months. [see graphics of at-risk
nocturnal migrants: 
http://www.vawind.org/Assets/Pictures/migrant%20numbers%20by%20altitude.pdf
]

The game department's report responded: "We believe this may translate
into the highest mortality rates in the East."

The game department, which was not asked to contribute to the study,
wants to work with the consultant to design future research, said
biologist Andrew Zadnik.

Animals possibly at risk from the windmills include two endangered
species, the Virginia big-eared bat and the Indiana bat, the game
agency's report said. The Virginia big-eared bat is the official state
bat.

The report recommended, among other things, another year of studying
bird and bat activity before the windmills are built. (Another agency,
the Department of Conservation and Recreation, recommended at least two
years of study.)

The game department's report also called for at least three more years
of study after construction, including searches for carcasses.

It may be possible, the report said, to accommodate the developers and
the animals -- perhaps by shutting down the windmills when the airborne
animals are most abundant.

The report also suggested looking into how often larger birds, such as
hawks and eagles, fly Highland's ridges by day.

Most American windmills operate in the West and Midwest, but developers
are increasingly looking to Eastern mountains, home to abundant winds
and wildlife.

Nearly 90 windmills are running in the Appalachian Mountains, and more
than 900 are planned or proposed for Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland
and Pennsylvania, the report said. The report calls for considering the
cumulative effect of those projects.

In addition to raising concerns about flying animals, the game
department's report said Highland "is one of the premiere sites" in
Virginia for outdoorsy tourists such as bird watchers.

"Development of the project could result in many tourists going
elsewhere," the report said. Supporters have suggested the windmills
may draw tourists.

The SCC will hold hearings on the windmill proposal March 13 and 14 in
Monterey.

Contact staff writer Rex Springston at rspringston at timesdispatch.com or
(804) 649-6453.

Birds, bats and windmills

Nineteen big windmills are proposed for Highland County ridges. A new
state report says:

. The windmills could kill large numbers of birds and bats.
. They could drive away some tourists.
. More study is needed, including collecting animal carcasses if the
windmills go up.

Windmill hearings

WHAT: The State Corporation Commission will hold four public hearings
on the proposed Highland County windmills.

WHEN: March 13 at 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. and March 14 at 4 and 7 p.m.

WHERE: Highland Elementary School gymnasium, Monterey.

RULES: Like court. No signs, demonstrations or cheers.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRT
D_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137834500931&path=!news&s=1045855934842

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