December 7, 2011
Minnesota

National eagle expert raises cry over wind project

By Brett Boese, The Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN, postbulletin.com 7 December 2011

ZUMBROTA – The oldest eagle preservation organization in the United States has joined calls from local citizens demanding that additional avian studies tbe done before constructing a 48-turbine wind project in Goodhue County.

Terrence Ingram, executive director of the Eagle Nature Foundation in Illinois, made that determination Friday after touring the 32,000-acre AWA Goodhue project for about four hours. He documented seven bald-eagle nests, six red-tailed hawk nests, and he saw 20 bald eagles – including two that flew over him less than five minutes into the tour.

Ingram’s visit was prompted by calls from Mary Hartman and Kristi Rosenquist, critics of the wind project, asking for his assistance. However, Ingram refused to take a stance based simply on information they’d sent him. That resulted in him spending almost 10 hours on the road last week in order to get a first-hand look at the area.

Reached Monday after his tour, he was highly critical of the pre-construction avian study submitted to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission by Westwood Professional Services, the consulting company hired by National Wind. Many of the nests viewed Friday were identified by Hartman and Rosenquist after Westwood’s initial examination.

In Wednesday’s print edition, learn about Ingram’s three-pronged proposal concerning the AWA Goodhue project.

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URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/12/07/national-eagle-expert-raises-cry-over-wind-project/