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Nature Canada supports senate motion for moratorium on wind projects in important bird areas
November 28, 2011 by Ted Cheskey and Chris Sutton in Nature Canada
November 28, 2011 by Ted Cheskey and Chris Sutton in Nature Canada
The motion, announced today by Senator Bob Runciman, calls for "a moratorium on the approval of wind energy projects on islands and onshore areas within three kilometres of the shoreline in the Upper St. Lawrence-Eastern Lake Ontario region, from the western tip of Prince Edward County to the eastern edge of Wolfe Island, until the significant threat to congregating, migrating or breeding birds and migrating bats is investigated thoroughly and restrictions imposed to protect internationally recognized important bird areas from such developments."
Virginia's offshore battle: Wind Vs. oil drilling; Potential for off-shore drilling eyed
November 11, 2011 by Sabri Ben-Achour in WAMU 88.5 FM
November 11, 2011 by Sabri Ben-Achour in WAMU 88.5 FM
The Obama administration's proposal to exclude Virginia from offshore drilling exploration has angered many top politicians in the commonwealth who view drilling as a potential source of jobs. But the decision has reinvigorated environmentalists' arguments that there's more to gain from wind power.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
Virginia]
The bird conservation group has advocated for years to require wind farms to take measures to reduce bird deaths, including restrictions on lighting that can draw birds to their deaths and planning that locates the facilities away from habitats that attract birds, such as wetlands.
Hundreds of migrating birds die at Laurel Mountain wind farm
October 30, 2011 by Rick Steelhammer in The Charleston Gazette
October 30, 2011 by Rick Steelhammer in The Charleston Gazette
Bird kills reinforce the need for "mandatory federal operational standards, as opposed to the optional, voluntary guidelines that are currently under discussion."
According to the American Bird Conservancy, the West Virginia bird kill numbers fly in the face of industry assertions that wind turbines kill, on average, two birds per year.
Massive bird kill at West Virginia wind farm highlights national issue
October 28, 2011 in American Bird Conservancy
October 28, 2011 in American Bird Conservancy
There were three critical circumstances that tragically aligned in each of the three West Virginia events to kill these birds. Each occurred during bird migration season, during low visibility weather conditions, and with the addition of a deadly triggering element - an artificial light source.
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
West Virginia]
A major energy firm has withdrawn its planning application to develop a 29-turbine wind farm at Waterhead Moor near Largs, North Ayrshire.
SSE - formerly Scottish and Southern Electric - said the decision had been made due to "a range of construction and planning challenges" over the site.
Kessingland: Research call after sparrowhawk ‘killed by wind turbine blade'
October 20, 2011 by David Green in EADT 24
October 20, 2011 by David Green in EADT 24
"The dead bird was on short grass about 40 metres from the base of the turbine, together with feathers spread either side of it in a circle of about 10 metres, suggesting it was impacted from some height and then dropped down.
One company and 26 residents want the court to overturn the county's wind ordinance and prevent a company from erecting turbines near their homes, according to documents filed by Roanoke attorney John Fishwick on Thursday in Roanoke County Circuit Court.
Roanoke County supervisor wants to revisit wind turbine noise ordinance
October 13, 2011 by Katelyn Polantz in Roanoke Times
October 13, 2011 by Katelyn Polantz in Roanoke Times
Elswick asked the county board of supervisors on Tuesday to rescind a 60-decibel maximum limit on large wind turbines. That policy regulates how loud the turbines can be at the nearest property lines.
The 60-decibel limit is too high, Elswick said Tuesday.
Also filed under [
Zoning/Planning|
Virginia]
Roanoke County supervisor wants to revisit wind turbine noise ordinance
October 12, 2011 by Katelyn Polantz in Roanoke Times
October 12, 2011 by Katelyn Polantz in Roanoke Times
Elswick asked the county board of supervisors on Tuesday to rescind a 60-decibel maximum limit on large wind turbines. That policy regulates how loud the turbines can be at the nearest property lines.
The 60-decibel limit is too high, Elswick said Tuesday. He compared the noise level to a highway.
An internationally recognized "Important Bird Area" is being threatened by an Ontario wind power development, a Canadian conservation group alleges.
Gilead Power Corporation hopes to build a nine-turbine wind farm on the south shore of Prince Edward County, a huge peninsula that juts into eastern Lake Ontario.
Spotted owl advocates pipe up over Whistling Ridge wind farm proposal
October 6, 2011 by Kathie Durbin in The Columbian
October 6, 2011 by Kathie Durbin in The Columbian
Wednesday's letter was signed by Seattle Audubon, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Conservation Northwest, the American Bird Conservancy and the Gifford Pinchot Task Force. It said the Fish and Wildlife Service made "multiple factual errors" in its earlier finding.
Among them: The agency implied that the owl documented in 2010 in the vicinity of the project was detected only three times.
Roanoke County bird-watchers worry about windmills' wake
September 28, 2011 by Laurence Hammack in The Roanoke Times
September 28, 2011 by Laurence Hammack in The Roanoke Times
So far this year, they have recorded more than 2,800 raptors above Poor Mountain, which is along the migratory path that can take the birds all the way to South America.
Raptors are threatened by turbines because they fly at such high elevations and tend to follow ridgelines when they migrate.
Fears wind farm could ruin Whitstable's world-famous oyster beds
September 15, 2011 in Whitstable Times
September 15, 2011 in Whitstable Times
"Studies show how wind farms attract starfish that eat oysters. If that is true, they will wipe out most of the oyster population here and ruin our tourist industry."
Vattenfall has begun a public consultation about its plans to add 17 turbines to the 30 already on the Kentish Flats offshore wind farm.
Four of the five Roanoke County supervisors put in place a wind-energy policy Tuesday night that they say will protect residents and guide the county with future development.
The fifth board member, Ed Elswick, said the board hadn't limited wind development enough.
A proposed zoning ordinance for industrial or commercial scale windmills hangs before the supervisors at their meeting tonight. Each of the five supervisors said recently that they plan to pass it, perhaps with some changes, as a way to protect residents.
Federal judge OKs deal on imperiled species
September 10, 2011 by Matthew Brown and Matthew Daly in Great Falls Tribune
September 10, 2011 by Matthew Brown and Matthew Daly in Great Falls Tribune
The agreement between the Obama administration and environmental groups resolves more than a dozen lawsuits that challenged the government's handling of roughly 250 so-called "candidate species." Those are animals and plants that scientists say are in dire need of protection but that the government has lacked resources to address.
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
USA]
Survey of mainland moose needed before final approval of wind farm
September 9, 2011 by Bruce Erskine in Chronicle Herald
September 9, 2011 by Bruce Erskine in Chronicle Herald
Based on the results of those surveys, Wind Prospect "must make necessary modifications to mitigation plans and/or wind farm operations to prevent any unacceptable impacts" to the satisfaction of the environment and natural resources departments.
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
Canada]
Public meeting addresses issue of wind turbines and bird deaths
September 9, 2011 by Mark Collette in Corpus Christi Caller Times
September 9, 2011 by Mark Collette in Corpus Christi Caller Times
Lanoue and his wife, Linda, came to ask federal officials to press the industry to report more information about bird deaths at wind farms, echoing a common complaint from wildlife advocates who say the industry hasn't done enough to measure the effect of turbines on birds.
New plan aims to reduce bird, wind turbine conflicts from Corpus Christi to Canada
September 7, 2011 by Mark Collette in Corpus Christi Caller Times
September 7, 2011 by Mark Collette in Corpus Christi Caller Times
The plan would provide conservation guidelines for development of wind farms across a 200-mile-wide migratory flyway from the Gulf of Mexico to North Dakota and Montana.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is holding an informational and public input meeting Thursday at the American Bank Center, the last in an initial series of meetings across the plan area.