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Energy in America: Dead Birds Unintended Consequence of Wind Power Development
FoxNews.com ^ | August 16, 2011 | William La Jeunesse

Posted on 08/16/2011 4:32:36 PM PDT by Hunton Peck

As California attempts to divorce itself from fossil-fueled electricity, it may be trading one environmental sin for another -- although you don't hear state officials admitting it.

Wind power is the fastest growing component in the state's green energy portfolio, but wildlife advocates say the marriage has an unintended consequence: dead birds, including protected species of eagles, hawks and owls.

"The cumulative impacts are huge," said Shawn Smallwood, one of the few recognized experts studying the impact of wind farms on migratory birds. "It is not inconceivable to me that we could reduce golden eagle populations by a great deal, if not wipe them out."

Windmills Generating Electricity

California supports roughly 2,500 golden eagles. The state's largest wind farms kill, on average, more than 80 eagles per year. But the state is set to triple wind capacity in the coming years as it tries to become the first state in the nation to generate 33 percent of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2020.

"We would like to have no bird deaths and no bird injuries. But, once again, we have to balance all the needs of society. All the people who want to flip their switch and have electricity in their homes," said Lorelei Oviatt, Kern County planning commissioner.

Kern County has identified some 225,000 acres just north of Los Angeles as a prime wind resource area. Unfortunately, the area's rolling hills and mountains are prime hunting grounds for raptors and a layover spot for migratory birds traveling between Canada and Mexico. The updrafts enjoyed by birds of prey are ideal for generating power.

"I'm not against wind power -- it is a viable form of energy generation -- but it needs to be developed more carefully," Smallwood said.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; US: California
KEYWORDS: energy; environmentalism; greenkills; windpower; windturbines
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Going green kills birdies.
1 posted on 08/16/2011 4:32:44 PM PDT by Hunton Peck
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To: Hunton Peck

good eatin’


2 posted on 08/16/2011 4:33:48 PM PDT by brivette
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To: Hunton Peck
"I'm not against wind power -- it is a viable form of energy generation..."

No, it's not.

Wind power is a complete disaster

"Denmark, the world’s most wind-intensive nation, with more than 6,000 turbines generating 19% of its electricity, has yet to close a single fossil-fuel plant. It requires 50% more coal-generated electricity to cover wind power’s unpredictability, and pollution and carbon dioxide emissions have risen (by 36% in 2006 alone)."

3 posted on 08/16/2011 4:36:40 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Regulation is government control of capital, and government control of capital is socialism.)
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To: Hunton Peck

I love it. All this earth worship and the lib-looneys still are screwing things up.

Regardless of the environmental impact of these windmill monstrosities (you should see the new one in Euclid Ohio), they’ll never admit they were wrong . . . never . . . Remember, it’s what their intentions were . . . not the results.


4 posted on 08/16/2011 4:38:39 PM PDT by laweeks
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To: Hunton Peck

Wind turbines kill thousands of bats too.


5 posted on 08/16/2011 4:39:05 PM PDT by hellbender
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To: Hunton Peck

All I have to say is: Clean, safe, nuclear power.


6 posted on 08/16/2011 4:40:07 PM PDT by MeganC (Are you better off than you were four years ago?)
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To: Hunton Peck

Murdering California Commies


7 posted on 08/16/2011 4:40:20 PM PDT by Nonstatist
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To: Hunton Peck
""I'm not against wind power -- it is a viable form of energy generation -- but it needs to be developed more carefully," Smallwood said."

Wind energy is heavily subsidized and inefficient when compared to fossil fuelsImage Source,Photobucket Uploader Firefox Extension

8 posted on 08/16/2011 4:40:25 PM PDT by gorush (History repeats itself because human nature is static)
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To: Hunton Peck

The area around the base of these monstrosities should be like a buffet for varmints.


9 posted on 08/16/2011 4:42:06 PM PDT by Ditter
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To: Hunton Peck

Ban all eagle nests within a hundred miles of a wind generator - (there, that aught to fix it)


10 posted on 08/16/2011 4:42:38 PM PDT by WorkerbeeCitizen (I STAND WITH ISRAEL!)
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To: Hunton Peck

Its not pretty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na6HxKQQsAM


11 posted on 08/16/2011 4:43:21 PM PDT by Western Phil
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To: Hunton Peck

Envirogreenies battling envirowhackos. What’s not to like?


12 posted on 08/16/2011 4:44:22 PM PDT by TADSLOS (Free Republic- Still AAA++ rated)
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To: Hunton Peck
Wind power is the fastest growing component in the state's green energy portfolio, but wildlife advocates say the marriage has an unintended consequence: dead birds, including protected species of eagles, hawks and owls.

Liberals - most - never cared about bird - they cared about stealing land from citizens under the excuse protecting endangered species... Have you ever seen a liberal find a snail darter etc. on ugly land? Never.

13 posted on 08/16/2011 4:45:33 PM PDT by GOPJ (One ring to rule them/one ring to find them/one ring to tax them/and in indebtedness bind them.)
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To: hellbender

“Wind turbines kill thousands of bats too.”

When I was in engineering school another student had converted his house to run on 12 volts and had a wind turbine driven alternator. The house was 1100 sq ft in a little subdivision and the blades were 30 feet total across. It worked really well, if you want to live with a closet full of 12 volt car batteries. He told me the real downside was every week he had to go out and collect a bushel basket full of bird carcasses. Apparently, they can’t see the blades turning and fly into them.

To think the greenies got upset with me that I let my cat run outside because, “cats kill ‘songbirds.’” I guess songbirds are better than ordinary birds. As far as I’m concerned, any bird that lets MY cat get them was thinking of suicide already.


14 posted on 08/16/2011 4:45:52 PM PDT by Gen.Blather
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To: Hunton Peck

Its ok when Greenies kill Birds.


15 posted on 08/16/2011 4:45:59 PM PDT by omega4179 (Obama Downgrade)
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To: hellbender
Wind turbines kill thousands of bats too.

It's more than just thousands of dead bats. The loss of the birds and bats are having significant negative impacts on farming.

Pa. wind turbines deadly to bats, costly to farmers

16 posted on 08/16/2011 4:47:01 PM PDT by CharlyFord (t)
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To: TADSLOS

Shame none of you get it. Let me elucidate. If you put wells off shore, you kill the fish which the birds eat. By building turbines, you only kill birds instead of killing fish and birds.

Hence you saved the fish. PETA would be proud.


17 posted on 08/16/2011 4:50:25 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Sarah Palin 2012 - Nothing but Net)
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To: laweeks
Testify! It's crazy to see the free pass that "green" energy gets when we would be jailed for killing the same birds. How messed up is that?
18 posted on 08/16/2011 4:51:09 PM PDT by rockvillem
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Shut them down. Dismantle. Paint the parts red. Sell to liberals as modern art.


19 posted on 08/16/2011 4:51:33 PM PDT by Casie
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Not only that, but transmitting the “wind power” from where it’s generated to where it’s consumed by the urban-dwelling NIMBY watermelons requires miles of huge ugly towers and high tension lines disfiguring the rural and wilderness landscape.

So-called environmentalists don’t really care about the environment. It’s all about exercising power over other people.


20 posted on 08/16/2011 4:54:10 PM PDT by Argus
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