QUICK NEWS, Sept. 17: THE NEWEST NUMBERS ON BIRDS AND WIND; BIG SOLAR COMES TO THE SOUTHEAST; WHERE THE EV CUTS EMISSIONS MOST

THE NEWEST NUMBERS ON BIRDS AND WIND New Study Provides Most Comprehensive Analysis Ever of Bird Fatalities at Wind Energy Facilities; Cell Towers, Buildings, Other Threats Are Much Greater

Sept. 15, 2014 (American Wind Wildlife Institute)

“A comprehensive peer-reviewed study released today provides the most detailed analysis to date of the impact of bird fatalities at wind energy facilities in North America, and is the first to measure the relative impact of those fatalities on populations of small passerines, including songbirds [according to A Comprehensive Analysis of Small-passerine Fatalities from Collision with Wind Turbines at Wind Energy Facilities]…[O]f the more than 5 billion small passerines in North America, an estimated 134,000-230,000, or less than 0.01%, collide annually with wind turbines…[A]ll bird fatalities from wind turbines range from 214,000 to 368,000 annually--a small fraction compared with the estimated 6.8 million fatalities from collisions with cell and radio towers, 1.4 to 3.7 billion fatalities from cats, and of the many other, much larger threats that birds face today…On September 8, a report by the National Audubon Society for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that climate change threatens the survival of more than half of all species of birds in North America…AWWI is working with its partners to sponsor additional studies, including on eagles and prairie birds…” click here for more

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BIG SOLAR COMES TO THE SOUTHEAST Duke Energy commits $500 million to N.C. solar power expansion

John Downey, Sept. 15, 2014 (Triangle Business Journal)

“…[Duke Energy]is making a $500 million commitment to a major expansion of solar power in North Carolina…The company will acquire and construct three solar facilities — totaling 128 megawatts of capacity — including the largest solar photovoltaic facility east of the Mississippi River…Duke also signed power-purchase agreements for five new solar projects in the state, representing 150 megawatts of capacity…Together, the eight projects will have a capacity of 278 megawatts. The $500 million commitment includes the investment in the three facilities and the value of the five long-term power-purchase contracts…The company says the initiative will help further its commitment to renewable energy, diversify its energy portfolio and meet North Carolina’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard…” click here for more

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WHERE THE EV CUTS EMISSIONS MOST Electric Vehicles Are Cleaner, but Still Not a Magic Bullet

Paul Stenquist, Sept. 16, 2014 (NY Times)

“…[In 60 percent of the United States, electric vehicles are now responsible for fewer heat-trapping global warming emissions per mile than even the most efficient hybrids [according to the Union of Concerned Scientists]…[In 2012,] in an area where electric power was generated using a high proportion of coal — as it is in much of the nation’s midsection — an electric vehicle was no cleaner than a high-m.p.g. gasoline-engine subcompact…[In the last two years,] some utilities have added clean renewable sources of electricity to their mix and, more important, electric vehicles have become more efficient…[T]he average battery- powered electric vehicle sold over the past year uses 0.325 kilowatt-hour per mile, a 5 percent improvement…That means an electric vehicle operating within the Midwest electric power grid, which blankets several states in whole or in part, is now as clean as a gasoline-engine car achieving 43 miles per gallon…An electric vehicle in New York achieves the equivalent of 112 m.p.g…[I]n California the number is 95 m.p.g…Colorado, which relies heavily on coal, is once again at the bottom of the list, with an E.V. achieving the same emissions as a 34 m.p.g. gasoline-engine car…” click here for more

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