http://www.windaction.org/ facts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impacts en-us Windaction hourly 1 http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.windaction.org/articles/37967 Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:12:27 GMT U.S. District Judge Michael Davis dismissed a lawsuit filed by the developer of the 100-turbine Merricourt project, which remains unbuilt amid lingering fears that whooping cranes and piping plovers will be slashed to death by its turbine blades. http://www.windaction.org/articles/37967 http://www.windaction.org/articles/37572 Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:06:03 GMT PUC chair Beverly Heydinger listed several hurdles. It's not clear whether the project's new ownership changes its status as a community-based energy development ...New Era's contract with Xcel Energy to purchase power is in question, as is its construction timeline. Nor is it clear that it can build the project and abide by restrictions to protect eagles that could be required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. http://www.windaction.org/articles/37572 http://www.windaction.org/articles/37553 Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:44:33 GMT An embattled wind energy project proposed for rural Goodhue County is getting another chance to show state regulators that it is taking adequate precautions to avoid killing nearby nesting bald eagles. ...The commission also will consider whether the project can keep its status as a community-based project. A PUC staff report recommended the commission show why status should not be revoked. http://www.windaction.org/articles/37553 http://www.windaction.org/articles/35939 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 19:02:06 GMT Bald Eagle Days has typically drawn a couple hundred people, but Ingram says it's unclear what effect the long hiatus and heightened local interest will have on those numbers. Minnesota produces the fifth-most wind energy in the country, but it's also in the top three for nesting bald eagles in the lower 48 states. http://www.windaction.org/articles/35939 http://www.windaction.org/articles/35649 Sat, 28 Jul 2012 05:24:20 GMT Wildlife agencies have previously commented on the EcoHarmony project, but new methods have been developed that could pose roadblocks for the ambitious wind project. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources filed paperwork designating the proposed wind project a "high risk" site for bats and birds. http://www.windaction.org/articles/35649 http://www.windaction.org/articles/35339 Wed, 27 Jun 2012 23:10:28 GMT Roughly 24 hours after winning a legal challenge that could kick-start construction of the AWA Goodhue wind project, the project was mentioned in a lawsuit filed by the American Bird Conservancy against the federal government. http://www.windaction.org/articles/35339 http://www.windaction.org/articles/35145 Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:24:40 GMT The Freedom Foundation of Minnesota (FFM) has learned that the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is investigating a report of a dead bald eagle found beneath a wind turbine in southeast Minnesota. The bald eagle was reportedly found over the weekend on a farm near the town of LeRoy. http://www.windaction.org/articles/35145 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34426 Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:53:55 GMT "I don't think that the American people are ready to watch Minnesota's nesting bald eagles be destroyed on behalf of a Texas millionaire." The commission's decision highlights an emerging conflict between a demand for clean energy and growing evidence wind farms can kill hundreds of thousands of birds and bats a year. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34426 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34421 Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:43:31 GMT Bald eagles won an unexpected victory Thursday when Minnesota regulators delayed a wind farm near Red Wing for at least a year because the developer failed to produce an adequate plan to protect America's national symbol and other flying creatures. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34421 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34418 Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:44:34 GMT The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission rejected a developer's plan to protect eagles and other wildlife that might be harmed by a controversial wind farm project in the southeastern region of the state. ...Neighbors who oppose the project packed the hearing room and took turns to speak about flaws they see in the project. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34418 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34399 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:58:18 GMT The company says it will apply for an eagle take permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The permit would allow the turbines to kill a certain number of eagles before the company would face penalties. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34399 http://www.windaction.org/articles/34263 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:51:47 GMT The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has postponed a hearing on a plan to limit bird and bat deaths at a controversial wind farm proposed for Goodhue County. http://www.windaction.org/articles/34263 http://www.windaction.org/articles/32566 Sun, 24 Jul 2011 03:25:46 GMT The conflict between these two opposing environmental goals -- clean energy and protecting wildlife -- is occurring increasingly as wind farms sprout across the nation. There is a growing realization that the massive towers with blades that travel hundreds of miles per hour are killing millions of wandering birds and bats. The concerns are having an effect. http://www.windaction.org/articles/32566 http://www.windaction.org/articles/29301 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:48:54 GMT Mageau's wind study was funded through by the state Department of Natural Resources, which sought information on whether birds migrate near the best wind locations. "One of the promises we made is that we would sort of develop this regional wind map, and we would do a bird migratory route overlay," he said. But no one had studied the birds, beyond raptor counts in Duluth. That led to Peterson's study. http://www.windaction.org/articles/29301 http://www.windaction.org/articles/22905 Sun, 30 Aug 2009 07:17:21 GMT Energy advocates are eyeing wind turbines to create electricity along the North Shore. Bird researchers are studying where the migrating birds fly most often. Once they know, they can advise the energy people on areas to avoid. ..."We know we have a globally significant raptor migration route here that [wind turbines] could have a serious impact on if not done correctly,'' Niemi said. "But we also have these hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of passerines [small birds] that come through here at pretty much the same time that most people don't even know about. We have to look out for them, too.'' http://www.windaction.org/articles/22905 http://www.windaction.org/articles/8614 Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT This document includes studies in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia. http://www.windaction.org/articles/8614 http://www.windaction.org/articles/9416 Mon, 07 May 2007 14:58:24 GMT America’s growing wind power industry is now facing new challenges — resistance to the wind turbines. Wind power critics have raised concerns about visual pollution, such as on Cape Cod and upstate New York where rows of wind turbines constructed or proposed can impact scenic skylines. America’s Defense Department has raised concern about the impact of multiple wind turbines on defense radar systems. Now, conservationists and coal advocates have asked Congress to seek an assessment of how many bats and birds are maimed or killed by wind turbines’ blades before the industry grows too large. http://www.windaction.org/articles/9416