[RE-wrenches] Wind Turbines killing birds and bats

Fri Jun 22 10:07:59 PDT 2012

Hello August,

Would you be willing to post the website URL for the vertical axis wind turbines to the list when it becomes available?  It would be great for potential vertical axis owners (and installers) to see.

Thank you,

Jason Lerner

Waldron Power and Light Co.

On Jun 22, 2012, at 8:01 AM, August Goers wrote:

> 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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