Earth Equity News

Research Finds Wind Power Poses Least Risk to Wildlife. By Tom Fowler, HChron, June 5, 2008. "Wind and nuclear... have the lowest potential impact on wildlife among the major U.S. electricity sources, according to a report [by Pandion Systems, a Florida-based research firm which undertook the study for New York state officials this year] examining several decades of research. Taking into account the entire life cycle of a power project -- from extraction of the fuel through plant construction, operation and shutdown -- the risks to wildlife ranged from low to medium for wind and nuclear... Findings [were presented] at the American Wind Energy Association's annual conference, which concluded Wednesday [in Houston]. Coal power had the highest risk level... Oil, which is declining in use as a power plant fuel, was given the next-highest risk rating... Natural gas-fired plants followed, with only emissions raising their risk rating. 'All energy sources affect wildlife, but no one has looked at all the sources from cradle to grave for their impact,' [study author Christian] Newman said... Sidney Gauthreaux, a pioneer in so-called radar ornithology, said during the conference that pre-construction bird and bat surveys are not particularly useful for determining potential dangers... That's why he and colleagues studied historic radar weather data... They found bird deaths are more likely during certain weather conditions, particularly low visibility and shifting wind patterns during the times of night when migrating birds are most active... That means wind farms that are properly equipped can shut down to avoid possible bird kills without losing too much valuable power generation time."