A compelling article by Tate Watkins published in “Reason Magazine” takes note of the fact that wind turbines do more damage to birds than we imagine. “The Case for Tradeable Permits in Dead Birds” argues, “Many politicians and conservationists have high hopes
of replacing fossil fuels with clean energy, but from a bird’s eye
view, wind turbine blades are deadly. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates
that wind turbines kill almost 328,000 birds each year.” Imagine how
dangerous it could be to fly through the chopping action of a wind
turbine farm.
“Earlier this year, one of the largest renewable energy companies in the country was fined
$8 million for unintentionally killing 150 bald and golden eagles at
wind farms in eight states over recent years. But, if the company had held a permit
from the service, it would not have been penalized. A smarter,
market-based permitting approach could motivate wind developers to
conserve eagles even as the sector expands.”
Read more.