Some news from the American Bird Conservancy which may be of interest.
http://www.abcbirds.org/media/releases/birdwire_news_06_07.htm#wind
Wind Energy Regulations Needed to Protect Birds
Bird protection measures should become mandatory for wind energy
projects because voluntary steps are being ignored by the wind energy
industry. This was the message delivered by ABC's Dr. Michael Fry at
a hearing before the House Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and
Oceans. Dr. Fry testified that, “Voluntary efforts to address the
impacts of wind projects on birds and wildlife have been a failure.
There has been much discussion and almost no real action on the part
of the wind industry to resolve bird collision issues.”
According to the National Wind Coordinating Committee, wind energy
projects are already killing between 30,000 and 60,000 birds per
year, including Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, Burrowing Owls,
Mourning Doves, and over 50 species of migratory songbirds. Given the
projected growth rate of the wind industry, between 900,000 and 1.8
million birds could be killed each year by wind turbines by 2030
unless protective measures are implemented.
With proper siting, operation, and monitoring, wind energy can
provide clean, renewable energy for America 's future with minimal
impacts to birds and bats. ABC emphasizes that before approval is
given for the construction of new wind energy projects, potential
risks to birds and bats should be evaluated through site analyses,
including assessments of bird and bat abundance, timing and magnitude
of migration, and habitat use patterns.
Wind energy project location, design, operation, and lighting should
be carefully evaluated to prevent, or at least minimize, bird and bat
mortality and adverse impacts through habitat fragmentation,
disturbance, and site avoidance. Sites requiring special scrutiny
include areas that are frequented by federally-listed endangered
species, known bird migration pathways, places where birds are highly
concentrated, and locations that have landscape features known to
attract large numbers of raptors. Once in operation, monitoring for
migrating birds should be ongoing and facilities should be
temporarily turned off to avoid major impacts.
Energy legislation sponsored by West Virginia Representative Nick
Rahall, Chairman of the House Resources Committee, included language
that would require the wind energy industry to avoid or minimize the
impacts to birds in the siting, construction, and operation of wind
energy facilities. American Bird Conservancy supports the intent of
this language and appreciates Chairman Rahall's thoughtful leadership
to address this growing problem.
An amendment effectively weakening Chairman Rahall's bill was offered
by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) and approved in committee. The amendment
requires the creation of an advisory committee to examine the
industry and its effects on wildlife and habitat. It also directs
the Department of Interior to develop "guidance to avoid and minimize
impacts to wildlife and their habitats related to land-based wind
energy facilities." While Rep. Markey's language is a step in the
right direction, it falls short of what is really needed.
Chairman Rahall had it right by offering balanced guidelines that
protected wildlife while allowing the continued growth of wind
energy. ABC continues to support this approach and will be
encouraging the U.S. Senate to adopt these important reforms.
************************************************************************
*
Alan McBride
Birding Guide +
http://web.mac.com/amcbride1
Be green and read from the screen
e-mail:
Skype me: mcbird101
Tel: + 61 2 9973 3141
Mob: + 61 419 414 860
Fax: + 61 2 9973 2306
This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they
are addressed. If you have received this e-mail in error please
notify the sender. This e-mail is also subject to copyright. No part
of it should be reproduced, adapted or transmitted without the prior
written consent of the copyright owner.
************************************************************************
*
==============================www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
=============================
|
