Posted on 02/23/2015 2:51:27 PM PST by matt04
More than 100 birds have been injured during testing of a new solar power farm.
Biologists say 130 birds caught fire mid-air while entering an area of concentrated solar energy created by the 110-megawatt Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project near Tonopah, Nevada.
Experts believe the birds may have been attracted by the glow of the farm’s tower, but the project’s owners, SolarReserve, say they have found a way to reduce the fatalities.
The solar project is close to being completion and is set to go launch next month.
Thousands of mirrors focus sunlight onto one central tower to melt salt inside it, which will in turn heat water so that steam will turn turbines to generate electricity.
At its peak, the project will produce 110 megawatts of electricity, which will be sold to NV Energy – a firm that powers the majority of homes in Nevada, Rewire reported.
In a test, one third of the project’s 10,000 mirrors were moved to focus sunlight at a point 1,200 feet above ground level – at approximately twice the height of its tower.
It took biologists just an hour and a half to notice the first of the ‘streamers’ – birds that catch fire and leave a trail of smoke in the air -when entering the field of solar energy.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
More fun than an ant mound and a magnifying glass on a sunny day?
Smoke’em if you got’ em...
Too bad they are not spatchcocked!
And for context, just how many millions of birds are killed by housecats every year?
More fun than an ant mound and a magnifying glass on a sunny day?
Oh plz.. more fun than a machine gunner at a Talibunny wedding/funeral.. or dropping a MOAB on a rats nest of ‘em.
and to think the EPA/DOE/WH will set acceptable limits of kill-offs as avian populations are devastated by green ideology and its fruits.
Many years ago, we were game farm hunting pheasants. Day was almost done, the sun was going down and the OWNER of the farm suggests lighting some barn pigeons on fire and shooting them.
Well, you know where pigeons go when you turn them loose.
That’s right, the barn. On fire.
Yes, beer was involved.
Do burning birds create pollution and greenhouse gasses?
And how are they fixing this problem? Warning signs?
If I kill a crow with a bb gun, I get a hefty fine and possible jail time. If a politically favored solar-power plant or wind farm kills 100 eagles, they get a waiver. Such is life under Obama.
Exactly!
In a test, one third of the project’s 10,000 mirrors were moved to focus sunlight at a point 1,200 feet above ground level – at approximately twice the height of its tower.
It took biologists just an hour and a half to notice the first of the ‘streamers’ – birds that catch fire and leave a trail of smoke in the air -when entering the field of solar energy.
I would like to propose this as an environmentally sound method of executing death row residents.
Screamer streamers - kind of like the sound of that.
It took biologists just an hour and a half to notice the first of the ‘streamers’ – birds that catch fire and leave a trail of smoke in the air -when entering the field of solar energy.
...
Reminds me of jet exhaust frying chickens in the barnyard, or torching ants with a magnifying glass.
Hoover Dam can produce over 2,000 megawatts & it was built in the 30’s
STREAMERS?... They already have a name for birds bursting it to flames in mid flight?
They happen to be in the area of protected habitat for the desert tortoise.
This turtle prevents our military from fully utilizing its land at Ft Irwin, prevents residential development, and required a reduction in herd size for ranchers on federal lands (Bundy Ranch). Nothing, and I mean nothing, is more important than that turtle.
Except a solar plant :)
Its for the children though - Harry Reid’s children.
how much is that costing taxpayers and how much more expensive is electricity going to be when it “sells” the power to the power company (which they are probably forced to buy)
All that to replace a tiny and cheap power plant?
Quit giving food stamps and give current recipients the address of the free fresh cooked birds!
Add BBQ sauce and we have take out solution to problem.
On the bright side
in a couple thousand years should start seeing flame retardant birds evolve with reflective silver mylar feathers... that would be cool
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