WILDLIFE SOCIETY ON WIND

The Wildlife Society statement on wind energy is an even-handed assessment. It recognizes the value and importance of wind energy and also recognizes there are factors that could bring the wind energy industry into conflict with animal rights’ activists.

Like nature itself, this is a matter of delicate balance. Objections to wind seem trivial compared to the actual dangers of coal and the potential dangers of nuclear. Yet there are nearly unavoidable consequences to any large-scale generation of energy.

Burning the Future: Coal in America, now running on The Sundance Channel, documents not only the environmental abominations of the coal industry but the abominable way the coal industry handles its devastations.

The wind industry is different. It is truly concerned and its actions show its concern. The American Wind Wildlife Institute (AWWI) is the wind energy industry’s response to the need for more information about and more solutions for the consequences of large-scale energy generation. AWWI is exactly what TWS calls for in its new position paper.

The most widely raised wildlife-related objections to wind involve avian life and habitat impact. TWS calls for more studies and better adjustments. AWWI was created to bring together governmental and nongovernmental environmental and policy groups to develop more studies and better adjustments.

Fewer birds are harmed by turbines than people are killed by cars - and society needs New Energy like wind at least as much as it needs cars.

Wind installations are not generally built in pristine wilderness but in open, inhabited spaces where wildlife has already been imposed upon and already adjusted to the things of man. AWWI is working hard to assist that process. The Audubon Society approves of wind. TWS does not disapprove.

Footnote: People who object to the aesthetics of wind need to see Burning the Future: Coal in America, now running on The Sundance Channel. Take a look at what mountaintop removal coal mining does to nature's aesthetics and get back to NewEnergyNews.

Proactively working to minimize harm and maximize benefit. (click to enlarge)

The Wildlife Society Releases Position Paper on Wind Energy Development
Laura Bies, May 16, 2008 (E-Wire)

WHO
The Wildlife Society (TWS)

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WHAT
TWS’ Impacts of Wind Energy Facilities on Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat

WHEN
The TWS technical review of wind earned a 2008 award from the Natural Resources Council of America.

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WHERE
Probably the most serious question about wind energy is its impact on habitat. TWS says more and better research is needed to develop more and better solutions.

WHY
TWS wants to:
- 1. Encourage greater coordination among states and provinces and their agencies responsible for wildlife and energy development to ensure consistency in permitting requirements, monitoring and research efforts, and acceptable mitigation, especially for migratory wildlife.
- 2. Encourage development and consistent implementation of guidelines for siting, monitoring, and mitigation strategies among states, provinces, and federal agencies that establish standards for conducting site-specific, scientifically sound and consistent pre- and post-construction evaluations, using comparable methods as much as is feasible, depending on site characteristics.
- 3. Advocate for the inclusion of guidelines in the permitting process to further strengthen agency participation and implementation of guidelines.
- 4. Advocate for the avoidance of siting wind facilities in high-risk areas that are determined based on the best science available.
- 5. Encourage implementation of on- and off-site habitat mitigation to reduce habitat-related impacts.
- 6. Encourage priority research that is properly designed and conducted to ensure unbiased data collection that meets peer review and legal standards.
- 7. Encourage more consistent, longer-term studies that utilize standardized protocols to address specific questions and improve comparability of studies and credibility of efforts.
- 8. Encourage publication of research results.
- 9. Encourage regional assessments and forecasting of cumulative land-use and impacts from all sources of energy development, and development of regional conservation strategies among industries, agencies, and private landowners to reduce conflicts and increase options for mitigation and conservation.
- 10. Educate the public and decision-makers about the natural resources implications of different forms of energy production and encourage efforts to conserve energy
- 11. Advocate that decision-makers address impacts of wind energy development on wildlife when approving wind energy projects.
- 12. Encourage the establishment of cooperative relationships between states, provinces, and federal agencies and wind energy companies.”

Mountaintop removal coal mining is far more disruptive of habitat. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Michael Hutchins, PhD, executive director, TWS: "We have found that the magnitude of impacts from wind energy development on wildlife, particularly migratory birds and bats, is not articulated consistently to wildlife managers, decision makers or the public…This lack of consistency hinders progress toward developing energy solutions that do not adversely impact wildlife."
- From the TWS position statement: "Given the projected increasing development of wind energy, biologically significant cumulative impacts are possible for some species and may become more pronounced over time unless solutions are found. Avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating harmful impacts to wildlife are important elements of ‘green energy’ and it is imperative that developers of wind energy, scientists, and natural resource agency specialists cooperate in developing and testing methods to minimize harm to wildlife."