Input Given for Developing Wind Energy on Public Lands
As wind energy is developed on both public and private lands, there is a concern regarding the impact on wildlife and habitat. Today, the Wind Turbine Guidelines Advisory Committee, created in 2007 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, sent final recommendations to Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, designed to further the development of wind energy while reducing the environmental impacts of the projects. Less than a week ago, Salazar received final recommendations on the Cape Wind Project.
While the proposed guidelines are currently voluntary for developers, they will be considered by Interior Department officials as they finalize regulations for wind energy development of both private and public land. The committee recommends that developers receive incentives to adopt the guidelines.
In a news release from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service issued today, Director Rowan Gould stated, “The Interior Department strongly supports the development of renewable and sustainable energy, including wind generated electricity. On behalf of the advisory team, I am pleased to present Secretary Salazar these recommendations aimed at responsibly producing wind power on our public lands while protecting our nation’s wildlife resources.”
The report is broken down into two areas: policy issues and “science‐based technical advice on how best to assess and prevent adverse impacts to wildlife and their habitats while allowing for the development of the Nation’s wind energy resources.” The second component was devised as a five-tiered approach.
Highlights of the Committee’s recommendations include:
• A decision-making framework that guides all stages of wind energy development;
• Reliance on the best available science when assessing renewable energy projects and their potential environmental impact; and
• Use of landscape-scaled planning that recognizes the need to think long-term about protecting our nation’s economic and natural resources.
You can download a copy of the final recommendations here.
4 Comments »
Robbyn Candelaria
Here’s the thing. Energy vendors MUST adhere to the highest standards of environmental quality or else they MUST NOT be permitted by our government. It is that simple. My Friends, if we do not start out this way, the Earth will suffer from corner-cutting, profit-saving measures that vendors will choose to take. It is truly a matter of life and death that our government officials make sound policy with not only EXPENSIVELY PROSECUTABLE CONSEQUENCES but also ones that PUT DEVELOPERS IN PRISON for violations. Renewable energy development is not just business. It carries the weight of the world. Tell the Secretary of the Interior and all of his staff — with no hesitation — that this must be done right if it will be done at all. And NO, WE SHOULD NOT BE OFFERING CASH INCENTIVES to vendors IF they agree to comply. They must not be permitted to do business if they won’t agree to comply with the highest standards, AND they must face prison time if they violate them. That is how important of a change we face. BTW — denying a permit for the proposed Cape Wind industrial-sized wind farm that intends to DECONSTRUCT Nantucket Sound would be the best way for our government to set a positive precedent for responsible offshore wind energy development. The ethical and pro-active businesses will run here to help America get online with renewables.
Barbara Durkin
I was copied on a response to the Wind Turbine Guidelines Advisory Committee on communication that notifies the FAC that they should anticipate an official “60-day notice of intent to bring a Citizen’s Suit under the Endangered Species Act for bringing such a biased report before the Secretary of Interior.”
It’s copied to over 400 interested parties.
There is enormous environmental consequence looming as final draft Wind Turbines Guidelines Advisory Committee guidelines optionally direct U.S. land-based wind energy development as identified killers of bird and bat life. Ample evidence that “Federal guidelines must be required rather than voluntary” exists stated the distinguished Donald Michael Fry the elected Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Environmental Studies Program at MMS., PhD Director, Pesticides and Birds Program of the American Bird Conservancy to Chairwoman Bordello and members of the Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee on May 1, 2007; at Oversight Hearing on: “Gone with the Wind: Impacts of Wind Turbines on Birds and Bats”.
Similar testimony was offered by Dr. Wallace of ABC to the Committee in 2008. His clear message, too, was to mandate the FAC guidelines.
“Secretary Kempthorne has clearly skewed the composition of the committee in favor of the industry representatives while ignoring leading experts on critical wildlife impacts,” said Eric R. Glitzenstein of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal, the law firm representing the groups. “This is precisely the kind of committee composition that the Federal Advisory Committee Act was designed to prohibit,” he added.
http://www.windaction.org/releases/13645
How unfortunate it is for avian life, and those who value it, that this FAC acts in the interest of wind developers, contrary to the interest of wildlife. As Best Science is ignored by this FAC, these guidelines remain optional observance by those profit-minded who have in the past demonstrated callous disregard toward the welfare of our feathered friends.
Robbyn Candelaria
The turbines are sinking! The turbines are sinking!
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article7096654.ece
solar panels
What are the pros and cons of wind energy?
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