[RE-wrenches] Wind Turbines killing birds and bats

[August Goers]

Hi All Wind Wrenches,

We have 5 turbines recently installed in the Golden Gate National park
land in San Francisco. They are small 1 kW vertical axis units - I was not
happy about installing vertical axis but that was what the client wanted.
The good news is that each turbine is being monitored for output versus
wind speed so we can see how they're really performing.

Anyway, the point of this post is to mention that they are doing an
official National Parks-sponsored bird kill study on the site. Someone
walks out with a clipboard every day to check for birds or other animals.
So far we've only had two stuck kites (it's a very public location!).

If you're interested here's a brief video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DzdW34z3iA

There will also be a website going live hopefully soon where you can see
the live monitored output of each turbine. We also have 28 kWs of PV on
the building. I can tell you all right now that in terms of cost per
Watt-hr generated that PV is WAY cheaper. With PV prices going down the
way they have I think small wind of any type is going to have a hard time
competing unless it is in a very special location.

Best,

August



-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of
roy at four-winds-energy.com
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2012 7:38 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Wind Turbines killing birds and bats

And for more fact sheets on small and distributed wind, check out the
Distributed Wind Energy Association at:
www.distributedwind.org


> It is definitely just another talking point against wind energy.  Of
> course large wind developments should be aware of migratory patterns.
> AWEA and DWEA both have good resources for debunking the myths.  For
> those of you interested:
>
>
> Great Fact Sheet, by Mick Sagrillo
>
> http://www.renewwisconsin.org/wind/Toolbox-Fact%20Sheets/birds/Birds-F
> oE%20fact%20sheet%202007.pdf
>
>
> Small Wind Toolbox for debunking other myths
>
> http://www.renewwisconsin.org/wind/windtoolbox.htm
>
>
> From AWEA (American Wind Energy Assoc.):
>
> "Birds and wind turbines:  While birds do collide with wind turbines
> at some sites, modern wind power plants are collectively far less
> harmful to birds than are radio towers, tall buildings, airplanes,
> vehicles and numerous other manmade objects. The National Academy of
> Sciences estimated in 2006 that wind power is responsible for less
> than 0.003% (3 of every
> 100,000) of bird deaths caused by humans and pets."
>
>
>
>
>
> Ryan Harkins
> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer /
> Project Manager
>
>
>
>
>
> Synergy Renewable Systems, LLC
> PO Box 58
> Stoughton, WI 53589
> PH: 608-712-7862
> ryan.harkins at energycraft.com
> www.energycraft.com
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 21, 2012, at 10:29 PM, Solarguy wrote:
>
>> By some estimates, outdoor cats in the United States kill more than 1
>> million birds every day on average. Other studies suggest the death
>> toll is as high as 1 billion per year.
>>
>> http://blog.nwf.org/2011/03/new-studies-highlight-impact-of-outdoor-c
>> ats-on-birds-and-other-wildlife/
>> Jim Duncan
>>
>> From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
>> [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Drake
>> Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2012 5:18 PM
>> To: RE-wrenches
>> Subject: [RE-wrenches] Wind Turbines killing birds and bats
>>
>> Hello Wrenches,
>>
>> A very knowledgeable friend has concern about wind turbines killing
>> birds and bats, and sent me these links.  From previous posts on this
>> list and information I've heard elsewhere, I thought this really
>> wasn't much of an issue, more of a red herring by those who are
>> opposed to wind energy.
>>
>> http://www.batsandwind.org/pdf/baerwald%20et%20al%20current%20biology
>> %202008.pdf
>> http://coalicionventanasverraco.org/files/horn_et_al_2008.pdf
>> http://www.batsandwind.org/main.asp?page=research&sub=operational
>> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090928095347.htm
>>
>> http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/collisions/pdf/wind_rulema
>> king_petition.pdf
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_wind_power
>>
>>
>> How much of an issue is this really?  Can we put the danger into
>> perspective?  Does this kill more bats and birds than the pollution
>> it displaces?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Drake
>>
>> Drake Chamberlin
>> ATHENS ELECTRIC LLC
>> OH License 44810
>> CO license 3773
>> NABCEP Certified PV
>>
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Roy Butler
NABCEP Certified Solar PV InstallerR
NYSERDA eligible PV & wind installer
Four Winds Renewable Energy, LLC
8902 Route 46
Arkport, NY 14807
607-324-9747

www.four-winds-energy.com

Although no trees were killed in the sending of this message, a large
number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.



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