THE WIND-WILDLIFE CONNECTION

A Struggle to Balance Wind Energy With Wildlife

Dan Frosch, December 16, 2013 (NY Times)

“As the Obama administration seeks to clear a path for more renewable energy projects, it has increasingly found itself caught between two staunch allies: the wind energy industry and environmental organizations…[Tensions] have risen since a new federal rule was announced this month allowing wind farms to lawfully kill bald and golden eagles under 30-year permits…Conservation groups reacted with anger to the rule, saying it gives wind farms too much leeway…Federal wildlife officials defended the rule, which will take effect early next year, saying it sought to balance the practical considerations of long-term wind farm projects with the need to keep eagle populations stable…While neither bald nor golden eagles are considered endangered…[both] are still afforded federal wildlife protections…[L]ess than 2 percent of the annual golden eagle deaths from human causes are because of wind turbines, and fewer than six bald eagles have ever been killed by a wind turbine…” click here for more

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