News
Category:
Impact on Wildlife or Germany
Browse in :
All
> Topics
> Impact on Wildlife (1297)
All > Location > Europe > Germany (200)
All of these categories
All > Location > Europe > Germany (200)
All of these categories
New legislation hidden in the government’s Budget Bill 55 will allow the Minister to grant exemptions from existing provincial legislation protecting endangered species which prohibits anyone from harming, killing, or destroying the habitat of a threatened species.
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
Canada]
Proposed Lake Ontario wind farm said to threaten wildlife
April 16, 2012 by Jennifer Kalish in EarthTechling
April 16, 2012 by Jennifer Kalish in EarthTechling
Members of Nature Canada worry that birds and bats will collide with turbine blades. They are also concerned that the development will fragment the unique wildlife habitat, threatening many endangered species such as the Whip-poor-will, Henslow's sparrow and the Rusty blackbird.
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
Canada]
The fire, which destroyed the turbine, occurred at the 51MW Gross Eilstorf wind farm in Lower Saxony, Germany. Vestas said it is still inspecting the nacelle via drone aircraft and a crane and modelling possible causes. It has yet to discover the cause.
The Danish wind giant is dealing with fallout from a fire on one of its turbine models. A number of operating turbines were paused following the fire, and the company responded to media questions this week.
More trouble for Vestas? New wind turbine model catches fire In Germany
April 3, 2012 by Laura DiMugno in North American Windpower
April 3, 2012 by Laura DiMugno in North American Windpower
Two recent incidents could hurt Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas' reputation, which has suffered from credibility problems over the past year ...The first incident involves a Vestas wind turbine that caught fire at the Gross Eilstorf wind farm in Lower Saxony, Germany, a separate incident has resulted in the injury of a worker at the Macarthur Wind Farm, in Australia.
Vestas wind turbine catches fire in Germany, no injuries
March 30, 2012 by Sally Bakewell in Bloomberg News
March 30, 2012 by Sally Bakewell in Bloomberg News
Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWS), the world's largest wind-turbine maker, said a V112 3.0-megawatt turbine caught fire today at the Gross Eilstorf wind farm in Lower Saxony, Germany. No injuries were reported.
The cause of the 3 p.m. blaze hasn't been determined ...The turbine, a new model for Vestas, was disconnected from the grid and three nearby V112 turbines were shut for safety reasons, it said.
Whistleblower alleges gag order kept state park employees from revealing harm to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park from proposed Ocotillo Express Wind Project
March 27, 2012 by Miriam Raftery in East County Magazine
March 27, 2012 by Miriam Raftery in East County Magazine
"To have the Governor's office tell our park officials NOT to comment on Ocotillo, OR ANY OTHER alternative energy projects adjacent to the Park, is a travesty, a violation of the trust between the citizens and the state." - Mark Jorgensen, retired Superintendent, Anza Borrego Desert State Park in an e-mail to ECM.
New voluntary wind guidelines will fail to protect birds, says leading bird conservation group
March 25, 2012 in American Bird Conservancy
March 25, 2012 in American Bird Conservancy
"The United States has had voluntary guidelines since 2003, and yet preventable bird deaths at wind farms keep occurring. This includes thousands of Golden Eagles thought to have died at Altamont Pass in California, and just recently, more than 500 songbirds reportedly killed on two nights last fall in West Virginia," said Fuller.
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
USA]
Across the nation, about 450,000 birds are killed every year at wind farms. According to Dave Bittner, executive director for the Wildlife Research Institute in Ramona, golden eagles are another bird species vulnerable to the windmills.
"They're big soaring birds and they like to hunt under the towers," he said.
The American Bird Conservancy, an advocacy group that has pushed for mandatory standards, said voluntary guidelines are largely unenforceable and will do little to protect millions of birds killed or injured by wind turbines.
The group "supports wind power when it is ‘bird-smart.' Unfortunately, voluntary guidelines will result in more lawsuits, more bird deaths and more government subsidies for bad projects," said Kelly Fuller, the group's wind campaign coordinator.
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
USA]
Occupy occupy D.C. wind turbine memorializes dead birds, despoiled land
March 12, 2012 in National Center Public Policy Research
March 12, 2012 in National Center Public Policy Research
"At some point the slaughter of birds and bats by taxpayer-subsidized wind turbines is going to trigger serious legal action," added National Center Senior Fellow Bonner Cohen, Ph.D. "If the full force of the Migratory Bird Treaty and the Endangered Species Act were brought to bear on these unsightly killing machines, investors would turn their backs on this artificial industry in a heartbeat."
Wind energy set to grow six-fold in California, but concerns also rise
March 10, 2012 by Miriam Raftery in East County Magazine
March 10, 2012 by Miriam Raftery in East County Magazine
“Our community and surrounding area will be devastated if Invenergy is allowed to build their 125 new turbines on Campo tribal land, and Iberdrola Renewables is allowed to build their Tule Wind project in McCain Valley with 134 turbines, and Enel Green Power is allowed to build their 80 or so turbines in Jewel Valley and McCain Valley,” Bonfiglio wrote.
The N.C. Utilities Commission said Thursday that it had no legal authority to reject the Pantego Wind Energy Facility, which would spread over 11,000 acres in Beaufort County. But the state commission said the wind farm can't move ahead until it receives state and federal environmental permits and meets other strict conditions.
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
North Carolina]
BLM defers huge China Mountain wind project for two years
March 8, 2012 by Rocky Barker in Idaho Statesman
March 8, 2012 by Rocky Barker in Idaho Statesman
The Bureau of Land Management will defer for two years a final decision on a huge wind farm on the Nevada border while it considers how to keep sage grouse from listing under the Endangered Species Act.
BLM suspended its environmental study of the proposed China Mountain Wind Energy project.
Germany: Swift action needed to keep offshore wind on track
February 28, 2012 by Rikki Stancich in Wind Energy Update
February 28, 2012 by Rikki Stancich in Wind Energy Update
In light of these major challenges, can Germany keep its offshore wind programme on track? While there are no fixed dates as to when the administration will act, Mr. Wesselink is adamant that swift action is essential for Germany's offshore wind programme to succeed.
"Only when the new legislation has been drafted in line with our plans, will it be possible [for Germany to meet its offshore wind target]".
Merkel's switch to renewables: Rising energy prices endanger German industry
February 24, 2012 by Frank Dohmen and Alexander Neubacher in Spiegel Online
February 24, 2012 by Frank Dohmen and Alexander Neubacher in Spiegel Online
There is no sign yet of the green economic miracle that the federal government promised would accompany Germany's new energy strategy. On the contrary, many manufacturers of wind turbines and solar panels complain that business is bad and are cutting jobs. Some solar companies have already gone out of business. The environmental sector faces a number of problems, especially -- and ironically -- those stemming from high energy prices.
Campaign tries to win support for western Palm Beach County wind farm
February 24, 2012 by Andy Reid in Sun Sentinel
February 24, 2012 by Andy Reid in Sun Sentinel
The main objection facing Sugarland Wind is the bird deaths expected from putting towering, fast-spinning blades between Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades, two prime destinations for migrating birds, wading birds and birds of prey.
Sugarland backers have said they expect about three to four bird deaths per tower per year.
"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.
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
Minnesota]
Bald eagles win a round against Red Wing wind farm
February 24, 2012 by Josephine Marcotty in Star Tribune
February 24, 2012 by Josephine Marcotty in Star Tribune
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.
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
Minnesota]
Controversial Goodhue wind farm environmental impact plan rejected
February 24, 2012 by Stephanie Hemphill in Minnesota Public Radio
February 24, 2012 by Stephanie Hemphill in Minnesota Public Radio
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.
Also filed under [
Impact on Wildlife|
Minnesota]