WIND TURBINES vs. WILDLIFE
To their credit the wind companies are helping to finance research
on the effects of wind farms/turbines on wildlife. If you go into Google, at
least today [July 18], and enter: Schwartzel Turbines you will see an
interesting article by Erich Schwartzel, “PA. turbines cost farmers by killing
insect-eating bats,” from today’s ‘Philadelphia Inquirer’, page B6.
Now that there is a lot of pussy-footing going on about the
possibility of turbines or wind farms on (or offshore from) Virginia’s Eastern
Shore, the prospect of their height reaching 750 feet, it might be good for us
to be aware of some of the harm they’ve done elsewhere. I’d love to hear that
wind energy would solve some of our energy problems without harmful effects but
am not convinced so far.
Here are some excerpts from the article:
“The 420 wind turbines in use across the state [PA] killed more
than 10,000 bats last year, mostly in late summer, according to the state Game
Commission. And by one estimate, the number of wind turbines is projected to
grow six-fold by 2030.” …
“Wind-industry executives are shelling our millions of dollars on
possible solutions, even as Pennsylvania wind farms are collaborating with the
Game Commission to count dead bats.” …
“Bats save farmers as much as $74 per acre, according to an April
report in ‘Science’ … In Pennsylvania, the study put yearly savings in rural
Somerset County at $6.7 million … Statewide, bats saved farmers an estimated
$277.9 million” …
… ‘bats are costing energy companies big bucks trying to stave off
their deaths beneath wind turbine blades.” …
“Turbines killed an estimated 1,680 birds in Pennsylvania last
year, according to the Game Commission report.” …
“Birds typically crash into the blade, while bats suffer from a
condition called barotraumas … The rapid drop in air pressure around the blades
causes bats’ lungs to burst., and they collapse with no lacerations or scars.”
I don’t know the best way to stay apprised of the Virginia Eastern
Shore situation but … ask around, please. Don’t ask me because I don’t know
the best way. I only became aware of the situation in an oblique way.
-Harry Armistead, Philadelphia.
