Opponents argue that the 600-foot-tall, 2,400-ton turbines would diminish the area’s natural beauty and harm sensitive geologic features that provide habitat to 16 endangered species, including bats and crustaceans that live in caves and underground streams. ...Opponents got a boost in October, when the Illinois Department of Natural Resources published a report, known as an Ecological Compliance Assessment Tool (EcoCAT), examining how natural areas and endangered species could be affected by the proposed wind farm. The agency made 19 recommendations. The first was for the developer to consider an alternate location.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Landscape Illinois

Brady said the Block Island Wind Farm, owned by Deepwater, is only five turbines, tiny by comparison to Vineyard. Yet charter fishermen, who traditionally operate south of the wind farm from January through April, reported a dismal fishing season: the once bountiful cod had disappeared. Ørsted Energy, the parent company of Deepwater, like the owners of the Vineyard, have a practice of paying off fishermen whose livelihoods are damaged by the wind farms.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Economy Massachusetts

At issue is the layout of the project. Fishermen want wide corridors, specifically a mile or wider oriented east to west. Current plans offer two 1-mile corridors, with only one running east to west. As an alternative, Vineyard Wind proposed using larger turbines with nearly 10 megawatts of capacity, thereby reducing the number of towers ...but pose risk to the project because they haven’t received design certification.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Economy Rhode Island

The Fishermen’s Advisory Board, which advises the Coastal Resources Management Council on fishing issues related to offshore wind, voted unanimously Monday to deny its support out of fear that the layout of the project’s 84 towering wind turbines in Rhode Island Sound would close off fishing grounds that are considered some of the most productive for the state’s commercial fleet.

Impact on Wildlife Rhode Island

A study by the University of Michigan (Great Lakes Environmental Assessment and Mapping Project) showed Lake Ontario to be one of the most stressed great lakes and asked, “why would we want to introduce more stress to the lake” through this wind mill project? “I am worried about the loss of a world-class fishery,” she said. “We should not allow large corporations to take any more chances with our environment.”

Impact on Wildlife New York

"The windmills, if they are constructed on Galloo Island will harm wildlife," said Dean Whitmer, president of the Henderson Business and Community Council. "Property values are going to drop for homes that are in the view shed of these windmills."

Impact on Wildlife Impact on People New York

The most surprising result of the acoustic monitoring of the wind farm construction was the intensity of the vibrations felt in the seabed from the pile driving. “The impact on the animals on the seabed is potentially worse than for those in the water column,” Miller said. “It may have had an effect on nearby bottom-dwelling organisms like flounder and lobsters, which have a huge economic value in the state. But we’re still trying to understand what that effect may be.

Impact on Wildlife Noise Rhode Island

Among the many things that have been discussed about the erection of 32 574-foot high wind turbines on Galloo Island is the effect such machines might have on birds of prey and song birds. We should not miss the probable devastating effect they would have on waterfowl, primarily ducks and geese.

Impact on Wildlife USA New York

Among the many things that have been discussed about the erection of 32 574-foot high wind turbines on Galloo Island is the effect such machines might have on birds of prey and song birds. We should not miss the probable devastating effect they would have on waterfowl, primarily ducks and geese.

Impact on Wildlife New York USA

Copeland will examine the current and expected status of wind projects in the West, as well as the leading science on their impacts to wildlife species including eagles, bats and songbirds. 

Impact on Wildlife Wyoming

The phrase “free as the wind” has long symbolized something comforting without cost. The wind has cooled humanity, and smelled good too. 

Impact on Wildlife Impact on People Illinois

“But our highest priority should be to protect our natural resource,” says LEMTA chairman Tom Mack in a statement. “Lake Erie has a unique frontage for many Ohio communities with resorts, parks, marinas, campgrounds, beaches and more. The pure vista of its unbroken horizon attracts tourists from around the world and contributes billions of dollars to our Ohio economy. Having hundreds of 500-foot spinning towers destroying that picture should make any question of offshore wind farms in Lake Erie moot.”

Impact on Wildlife Impact on People Ohio

“They are stealing our fishing grounds by placing them on our place of work. They are industrializing the ocean floor,” said Bonnie Brady, the executive director of the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association. ...Any discussion about mitigating the effect the wind turbines have on fish so they can coexist is ludicrous. “It’s like putting a junkyard in the middle of a farm field,” he said. “The noise and sounds aren’t natural to what has been going on for a million years.”

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Economy Offshore Wind USA New York

“They are stealing our fishing grounds by placing them on our place of work. They are industrializing the ocean floor,” said Bonnie Brady, the executive director of the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association. ...Any discussion about mitigating the effect the wind turbines have on fish so they can coexist is ludicrous. “It’s like putting a junkyard in the middle of a farm field,” he said. “The noise and sounds aren’t natural to what has been going on for a million years.”

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Economy Offshore Wind New York USA

This is the first Lake Erie wind turbine project that has been recommended for approval by the OPSB. They have placed some “conditions” on their approval of the project, but if those conditions are met with studies that lack transparency, or are built on flimsy science, or by cherry-picking numbers and portions of studies that push a favorable breeze on this wind farm, we all lose.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Birds Ohio

For more than 50 years, Carolyn Semin has treasured the black nighttime skies in the Nebraska Sandhills dotted with twinkling stars. "People come from all over the world to look at it, especially at Merritt Reservoir for the annual Star Party," she says.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Landscape Nebraska

Public Service Commission Chairman Randy Christmann told legislators last week the commission was not involved with the agreement and he believes future offset packages should be handled differently.

Impact on Wildlife North Dakota

The Tug Hill Commission and the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust have both released issue papers detailing how wind farms, for better or worse, impact surrounding areas.

Impact on Wildlife Impact on Landscape New York

One 10-year study conducted in Dickey County showed that seven of nine grassland bird species avoided wind farms in the area. A three-year study of the impact of wind facilities on duck habitat in North Dakota found there were 20 percent fewer breeding pairs in areas with wind towers.

Impact on Wildlife North Dakota

The representatives are renewing their calls for a study commission in light of Deepwater Wind’s recent announcement of plans to expand the offshore wind farm off the Rhode Island coast.

Impact on Wildlife Offshore Wind USA Rhode Island