A small wind turbine in Swansea Enterprise Park has predictably killed a swan (Evening Post, September 7), and no doubt other birds, which would be scavenged by animals unless the corpses were found immediately. A 200-turbine wind farm is proposed for the Isle of Lewis and the RSPB now reckons 50 golden eagles and between 100 and 250 red throated divers could be killed by collision with rotor blades over 25 years. (British Wildlife, August issue).
The “wind kill” appears to be biased to soaring raptors and large slow-flying species.
Turbines in mid-Wales are documented as having killed two red kites, still an uncommon bird and one which is of immense significance to Wales as a symbol of rebirth.
As the number of turbines grows, we shall see a selective culling of upland and coastal birds which we can ill-afford to lose.
At the same time we are told wind farms don’t make a noise; it is a myth wind farms influence property values; light flicker through turbine blades is not annoying; no bird would be stupid enough to fly into a wind turbine; wind turbines are magnificent sculptural entities which enhance nature’s boring landscapes. And so on.
We are told such things repeatedly.
Indeed the Department of Trade and Industry has a website entitled “Ten myths explained about wind power” which includes several such assertions.
Has any Government department previously promoted a single private industry in this way?
Similar stories are told by governments and the wind power industry throughout the world, but the whole monstrous lie is blown apart in a letter sent this month by the Noble Environmental Power company of Churubusco, New York State, to neighbours of Noble’s wind power developments.
The letter offers a “Windpark border easement agreement” which would pay the owner, or any future owner, of the neighbouring property an annual easement fee.
Now, why would a wind power company wish to pay any of its neighbours for the pleasure of living beside a wind factory, which does nothing but enhance the local landscape? Or is it true that most people do not like these 400ft machines, that property values are reduced and the turbines save next to no co? emission?
Dr John Etherington
Parc-y-Bont
Llanhowell
Solva
Haverfordwest
Pembrokeshire
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/09/14/power-at-what-cost/