Bat-ter up! Enviros say no to green energy
Senator John Thune is quoted in the Washington post today commenting on an enviro-mental proposal to slow down wind energy development because of concerns that bats and birds might have trouble navigating the big blades:
Is it just me, or does it seem a bit nutty that after they've beat the drum of greener energy for decades, when people and industries have found ways to make that kind of technology feasible, now the enviromentalists find reasons so they don't want us to start using it?
oy.
John Stroud, the co-chairman of Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy, is fighting a wind power project in Rahall's district, saying it will spoil scenic views and endanger bats.Read it all here.
and...GOP Sen. John Thune, who has introduced legislation that would give the industry more incentives, was more blunt.
"This proposal is badly misguided and is a step in the wrong direction," said Thune of South Dakota, one of the windier states. "Congress should not be blocking the development of one of the nation's cleanest energy resources ... I will fight any efforts to stymie its development because of unfounded concerns for bats and birds."
Is it just me, or does it seem a bit nutty that after they've beat the drum of greener energy for decades, when people and industries have found ways to make that kind of technology feasible, now the enviromentalists find reasons so they don't want us to start using it?
oy.
Comments
Sort of like honeybee populations, which are collapsing nationwide...less honeybees, less polinization; less polinization, less harvest, etc. There are real consequences there that matter to people and farmers. If some environmental "wacko" (as ken descirbed them) 10 years ago was telling you about the impending honeybee collapse, you'd have laughed in his face and called him a, well, wacko.
This is not a new issue, nor a new study, nor a new anything.
People need to get it together!
But, in this case, I agree with PP and Senator Thune. Wind energy is very important and I think we shold continue to support it. I haven't looked over any evidence that those wind blades might be harmful to birds and bats. Have there been any reports of current wind farms having harmful effects like that? This is the first I've heard of it.
OK, PP and John Thune, how about paying attention to the actual arguments and science behind the issue?
What's that? Pheasants are one of the bird species at greatest threat from incorrectly placed wind turbines (not all turbines, just poorly placed turbines)? Hmmm, looks like maybe South Dakota should have a keen interest in making sure wind farms are planned carefully.
Those birds and bats that can't dodge those slow moving wind blades are the weakest of their species. Their rotting carcasses will make a fine meal for scavengers, like those posting on this blog.