Big Wind likes to claim that they are installing massive turbines because of their interest in pro-environmental causes. But the AWEA, Big Wind's biggest lobby, tells a different story.
Wind industry group opposes federal guidelines to protect birds
The American Wind Energy Association Industry said it will oppose plans by a federal agency to adopt voluntary regulations on wind developers to protect birds and other wildlife.
AWEA said in a release that more than 34,000 MW of potential wind power development, $68 billion in investment and 27,000 jobs are at risk due to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service policies on golden eagles.
"Those numbers are expected to grow exponentially with analysis of the full scope of the proposed guidelines," AWEA said.
Two Fish and Wildlife Service documents offer guidelines for utility-scale and community-scale wind energy facilities to, according to the agency, "avoid and minimize" negative impacts to fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats.
"Draft Voluntary, Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines" was developed for industry to avoid and minimize impacts to federally protected migratory birds and bats and other impacted wildlife resulting from site selection, construction, operation and maintenance of land-based, wind energy facilities. The Fish and Wildlife Service also developed peer-reviewed "Draft Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance" for wind project developers and employees who must evaluate impacts from proposed wind energy projects to eagles protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and other federal laws.
AWEA said it cannot support either document even though it participated for more than two years in a public, collaborative Federal Advisory Committee process. AWEA said the process resulted in consensus recommendations on wind turbine siting that wind energy developers broadly supported.
For more from this article, click HERE.
Wind industry group opposes federal guidelines to protect birds
The American Wind Energy Association Industry said it will oppose plans by a federal agency to adopt voluntary regulations on wind developers to protect birds and other wildlife.
AWEA said in a release that more than 34,000 MW of potential wind power development, $68 billion in investment and 27,000 jobs are at risk due to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service policies on golden eagles.
"Those numbers are expected to grow exponentially with analysis of the full scope of the proposed guidelines," AWEA said.
Two Fish and Wildlife Service documents offer guidelines for utility-scale and community-scale wind energy facilities to, according to the agency, "avoid and minimize" negative impacts to fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats.
"Draft Voluntary, Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines" was developed for industry to avoid and minimize impacts to federally protected migratory birds and bats and other impacted wildlife resulting from site selection, construction, operation and maintenance of land-based, wind energy facilities. The Fish and Wildlife Service also developed peer-reviewed "Draft Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance" for wind project developers and employees who must evaluate impacts from proposed wind energy projects to eagles protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and other federal laws.
AWEA said it cannot support either document even though it participated for more than two years in a public, collaborative Federal Advisory Committee process. AWEA said the process resulted in consensus recommendations on wind turbine siting that wind energy developers broadly supported.
For more from this article, click HERE.