Wildlife expert Dan Boone presented these slides at the 38th North American Symposium on Bat Research held in Scranton, PA in October 2008. Mr. Boone's presentation focused on the trade-offs of wind energy development in Eastern US balancing the benefits of this energy resource against the environmental risks, particularly to bats. Note that slides # 27, 32 and 33 of the presentation provide graphs which quantitatively estimate the potential impacts on bats and forest habitat resulting from the projected intensity of wind energy development within the eastern US states which comprise the bulk of the Appalachian mountain region. The summary slide from the presentation is listed below. The full presentation can be accessed by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.

Summary

. . . wind energy development on central Appalachian ridges carries great risk of environmental harm and very little potential for benefits.

1. The wind energy capacity of the central Appalachian region is substantially less than in other regions of the U.S.

2. The areas with sufficient wind for commercial projects are the ecologically fragile areas that represent our remnant wild landscape.

3. Wind energy development in the region cannot make a significant contribution to solving our energy and environmental problems.

4. Promotion of wind energy development in the region hinders our ability to achieve real solutions for real problems.

Web link: http://www.vawind.org/

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NASBR-bats&wind turbines_24Oct08-BOONE&WEBB.pdf (1.38 MB)