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Bat deaths cast pall over promise of wind power
THOMAS, W.Va. — Towering up to 228 feet above the Appalachian Mountain ridge — far above the treeline — are windmills lined up like marching aliens from War of the Worlds.
Up close, they emit a high-pitched hum. From a few hundred yards away, their blades — extending 115 feet from center — cause a steady whooshing sound as they cut through the air at up to 140 mph at the tips.
November 14, 2005
by Larry Lipman
in Palm Beach Post Washington Bureau
Owned by Juno Beach-based FPL Energy, a sister company of Florida Power & Light, they are part of the national effort to develop diverse — and more environmentally friendly — energy sources.
The problem is, they're killing thousands of bats a year.
Touted by the power industry and some environmentalists as among the cleanest methods of generating electricity, wind farms are opposed by other environmentalists and mountain denizens, who say they kill too many bats and birds, disturb other wildlife and spoil the landscape.
"I can appreciate that we need other energy sources," said Jane Burch, who lives in neighboring... [continue via Web link]
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