In the United States, energy consumption is on the rise. With this surge in energy consumption comes the rising costs of producing such energy and an increase in damage to the environment. As a result, new sources of energy are being researched and put into action. One such source is wind energy. “Wind-powered electricity has emerged in the United States in the last decade as a clean, affordable, renewable, potentially abundant domestic source of energy”, (Bohn et al, 2009). As of 2009, wind energy supplied about one percent of energy consumption in the United States, (Bohn et al, 2009). One may question why wind energy supplies so little of our energy when the proposed benefits are so great? Just like all sources of energy, energy harnessed from the wind has its own environmentally damaging effects. Studies indicate that wind turbines are significantly increasing bird and bat mortality rates due to collisions. Also, and possibly more significant, is the threat to wildlife caused by the placement of turbines that destroys the natural habitats of many bird species.
Scientists and researchers have been studying the effects of wind farms on the mortality rates of avian species and bats over the past few decades. A particular area of interest is the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area (APWRA) in California. This pass is of particular interest due to its high bird populations as well as its abundance of wind turbines. The APWRA has been found to be the cause of numerous bird fatalities, (Smallwood et al, 2009). In a study done by Smallwood et al, scientists observed the correlation of fatality rates of certain species of birds with the utilization rates of wind turbines in the APWRA, (2009). Results of the study included findings such as, “mean monthly fatality rate of red-tailed hawks increased with increasing utilization rate”, (Smallwood et al, 2009). Other species of birds were also found to share the same positive correlation with the red-tailed hawks in this study, suggesting the negative effects of wind energy.
Another study was conducted in the APWRA, which calculated the number of bird deaths caused by wind turbines as noted by the number of bird carcasses found. “Using mortality estimates adjusted for searcher detection and scavenger removal rates, we estimated the annual wind turbine-caused bird fatalities to number 67 golden eagles, 188 red-tailed hawks, 348 American Kestrels, 440 burrowing owls, 1,127 raptors, and 2, 710 birds”, (Smallwood et al, 2008). The results found in many studies performed in the APWRA gave rise to similar studies on wind farms across North America.
Another species at great risk due to wind energy are the lesser prairie-chickens. This species is known to avoid nesting near large structures, such as a wind turbines, which greatly limits their nesting grounds in an already declining prairie land existence in the United States, (Pruett et al, 2009). Even more unfortunate for the lesser prairie-chickens, is the fact that, “lesser prairie-chickens are found in states with some of the highest potential for wind energy development”, (Pruett et al, 2009). Not only are birds at risk of collision with the wind turbines, they are suffering from diminishing natural habitats. “…Results from the Buffalo Ridge Resource Area in Minnesota indicated that fewer birds and fewer species used areas in the vicinity of turbines than in control areas that lacked turnines”, (Kuvlesky Jr et al, 2007). Studies all over the country have found similar effects on avian species due to wind farms.
As the potential for wind to take over as the major supplier of energy in the United States rises, one could assume that so, too, will the harmful effects to avian species. There is, however, another side to this story. Some researchers point out that deaths to avian species are not as significant as we have been lead to believe. According to the American Wind Energy Association, “individual bird deaths due to wind development will never be more than a very small fraction of those caused by other commonly accepted human activities and structures—house casts kill an estimate 1 billion birds annually in the U.S. alone”, (2010). They suggest that one must be very critical in assessing the results of avian deaths on wind farms and be sure not to ignore the base rates. When looking at the bigger picture, the effects of wind farms don’t seem so bad for avian species. Problems with the way studies have been conducted is also brought to our attention, “Experimental designs and data collection protocols were generally inconsistent from study to study, which not only probably contributed to the observed variability between studies but also rendered results for the most part incomparable”, (Kulvesky Jr et al, 2007).
The influence of the media has also played a role in the skepticism of wind energy and its effects on birds. According to the American Wind Energy Association, “Unfortunately, media coverage about Altamont often gives the impression that all wind power projects have a significant effect on birds, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary”, (2010). It comes as no surprise that the media may not tell the completely truthful story.
Wind energy is being promoted as the most environmentally friendly source of energy, and a great alternative to fossil fuels and coal. “Production of one megawatt per hour (MWh) of electricity from coal results in one metric ton of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere. A major benefit from the use of wind energy and hydropower is that each additional MWh that replaces coal generated electricity offsets one metric ton a year of carbon dioxide emissions”, (Hargreaves et al, 2007, pg. 203). With less carbon dioxide emissions, wind energy is clearly the cleaner choice for energy supply.
Regardless of the numbers, both sides of the wind energy/avian battle agree that death to birds result from wind energy farms. Knowing this, there are steps that can be taken by companies in the wind energy business to help limit the number of deaths. Such steps include paint color, size, and height of the turbines, as well as overall placement. If acknowledgement is given to the avian species, I believe that wind energy is the most environmentally friendly source of energy one could utilize in the United States.
RESOURCES:
Bohn, C., & Lant, C. (2009). Welcoming the Wind? Determinants of Wind Power Development Among U.S. States. Professional Geographer, 61(1), 87-100. doi:10.1080/00330120802580271.
Smallwood, K., Rugge, L., & Morrison, M. (2009). Influence of Behavior on Bird Mortality in Wind Energy Developments. Journal of Wildlife Management, 73(7), 1082-1098. doi:10.2193/2008-555.
Pruett, C., Patten, M., & Wolfe, D. (2009). It's Not Easy Being Green: Wind Energy and a Declining Grassland Bird. Bioscience, 59(3), 257-262. doi:10.1525/bio.2009.59.3.10.
Smallwood, K., & Thelander, C. (2008). Bird Mortality in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area, California. Journal of Wildlife Management, 72(1), 215-223. doi:10.2193/2007-032.
Kuvlesky Jr, W., Brennan, L., Morrison, M., Boydston, K., Ballard, B., & Bryant, F. (2007). Wind Energy Development and Wildlife Conservation: Challenges and Opportunities. Journal of Wildlife Management, 71(8), 2487-2498. doi:10.2193/2007-248.
Hargreaves, G., & Zaccaria, D. (2007). Better Management of Renewable Resources Can Avert a World Crisis. Journal of Irrigation & Drainage Engineering, 133(3), 201-205. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9437(2007)133:3(201).
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