Wind Turbine farm

[Dave S (Texas)]

The Texas GLO has signed a deal to install 50 wind turbines off the coast of Galveston. Galveston is a known migration route. There are other proposed sites also: Freeport, Corpus Christi and Brownsville. These 3 sites may be as many as 100 turbines. Each turbine will be 260' above sea-level, to the center of the rotor, and the blade measures 125'.

The director of Clean Water Action, D. Foster, is quoted as saying: "Evolution will weed out stupid birds"

Wind power is a clean energy source, which all should prefer, but locating these 'farms' in migration routes?

[John Miller]

Dave

I was listening to a story on NPR yesterday about this. It's worrisome. I know the proponents say they can do things to reduce danger to migrating birds, such as shutting off the blades when bad weather might cause migrants to fly lower.

It's up to you Texans I think to sort this out and hopefully take steps to ensure much of the nation's birds can safely fly through the gauntlet.

John Miller

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

Have you ever heard if birds get hit by the blades? I often wondered if the birds couldn't dodge them, as I have no idea. Normally a bird will go around something that it has not normally seen. This is a good subject as it surely will arise many times in the future

[Guest]

To carry what Emil said one step further, would attempts to make the turbines more visible with paint or lighting help the birds avoid the blades in the first place? But then you might get complaints regarding the esthetics of the rigs.

It's never easy to find a balance that pleases everyone. I strongly agree with Emil that this is something that deserves further study.

Jeff

[Guest]

I think they certainly would be required to have aviation obstruction lighting ....this may help alter flight paths somewhat.

dick

[John Barrow]

Hi Friends,

With respect to the Corpus Christi project, which is being projected to be built on the Kenedy ranch that adjoins the King ranch south of Kingsville (and may be the same project under consideration as Brownsville) I read just this month an article in our local audubon club newsletter about the project. Several club members, as well as some area ornithologists and environmentalists, and Texas Parks and Wildlife and US Fish and Wildlife, have been closely involved in monitoring the project. Of primary concern is the affect on nighttime migration and studies are underway to determine what numbers of birds might be so impacted.

So far, the watchdog group believes that the project location is as favorable as any in the general area--it is not within sight of the waterway-will not affect hawk migration and they project a minimal impact--perhaps losing 4 birds per turbine per year. The project is to be built in phases and building of the second phase is dependent on impact findings during use of phase one. Of course we all know how those restrictions go.

From what I read there is a lot of environmental uncertainty about the entire project, but there are also a good number of concerned folks watchdogging it.

[Guest]

There is an article in the May issue of Texas Parks And Wildlife magazine about wind farms. There has been some study done on how it will effect migratory birds, but they really don't know.

[Guest]

There is an article in the May issue of Texas Parks And Wildlife magazine about wind farms. There has been some study done on how it will effect migratory birds, but they really don't know.

Its quite a good article! The Bat Conservation Intn', found in Tenn/Kentucky 2000 bats killed in 6 weeks by 64 turbines. Texas is second behind California in generated megawatts...... we'll see how it turns out!!

Chuck

[mgstei1]

I do not want to risk ANY migratory birds to wind turbines no matter how small the chance, if it could even ever be proven.
We already have nuclear in the Bay City area, whats wrong with a few more! I say go nuclear!!
I LOVE THE BIRDS(MARTINS) more than some energy company or gov. and we need to protect them as best we can.

[Guest]

This points out the problem with energy consumption in this country. There is no totally problem free source for energy. While it is important to research energy sources and focus on those with the least amount of impact, reducing the amount of energy we consume is even more important. By reducing our consumption we save money, save natural resources, and reduce the impact that energy production has on our environment.

Of course, I am like every other red blooded American in that I like the creature comforts that our modern living provides. It is not easy to give up the life styles we have become accustomed to, but I think there is a lot of things we can do to eliminate needless waste of energy.

I believe that the average person on this forum (by their interests in martins and nature) understands this. Everything in nature goes around full circle. The things that we do to conserve energy in some way effects not just martins, but all living creatures on this planet. The well-being of purple martins is one of those indicators of how good or bad we are taking care of Earth. Every little bit helps.

Jeff

[John Barrow]

Supplementing this thread, it was reported locally today that the land office has signed another lease for a wind farm offshore South Padre Island. This is in addition to the Kennedy county project mentioned above. Here is the link to the article:

http://www.caller.com/ccct/local_news/a ... 42,00.html

It is hard to believe that these extensive projects will not have very significant impact on neotropical migrants and shorebirds, as well as other wildlife. It makes me sick and ashamed what Texas politicians are doing to our environment-from the White House on down.

[John Kendall]

Engineers and scientests don't make good presidents, or managers, or CEO's for that matter any day. Too much insight or technical knowledge is unnecessary and in the way of progress.
My point is that no one liked Jimmy Carter and wanted to admit his brutal honest truths of that day, but, one of them was oil and energy, and it turns out that he was right all along about the need to conserve energy.

What ever happened to the VW rabbit at 40 mpg circa 1978???
Who ever said we had an "energy crisis? That was just a myth from the 70's , right?
Our response was to build more trucks and SUV's, driving them down the road like we were some kind of new age Roman's, heading towards our own economic demise. What do you expect?

[RC Moser]

I don't understand why this country don't produce sugar beats rather than corn. Brazil has reduced it's oil consumption by 80%. I also the same program said it takes three hours to turn the sugar beats to alcohol? 3 HOURs. We should at least be able to reduce or oil fever by 40% till a way is found for it to be widely used in the ICE belt.

Wind turbines, they can't make enough of them quick enough. I see them Big blades coming out of Gainesville Tx. like there it's a funeral Position. Probably will be for or feathered friends. But, Wind is a natural resource that will be exploited, but I bet they won't be an eye sore for the rich with beach front property .

[Guss P O'Brien]

The rich beachfront owners who feign to hug a tree from time to time when it suits them, don't like the idea of a wind turbine farm fouling up their view.

http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?a ... P-05-10-06

Wind has good potential and it should be studied on a large scale to see what the impact is on wildlife. I would think large lumbering birds like pelicans would have the worst time with them.

Audubon is pro wind farm
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massac ... wind_farm/

[Guss P O'Brien]

http://www.capewind.org/

A good site to see lots of good info. I'd recommend the simulated views- what it would look like from land and the video of the wind farm in Denmark. Lots of interesting reading and viewing.

[Guss P O'Brien]

In this study, "they" predict between 1 and 110 bird collisions per turbine per year. http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/re_wind ... s-bird.pdf See pp. 13-15.

More links

http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=10447

http://www.glo.state.tx.us/news/archive ... ewind.html