LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Reduced bat mortality at Beech Ridge 

Credit:  By Peter Shoenfeld | The Higlands Voice | April, 2013 | wvhighlands.org ~~

Beech Ridge Energy, LLC (BRE) recently submitted their 2012 Post-construction Carcass Monitoring Study for the Beech Ridge Wind Farm, prepared by Western Ecosystems Technology, Inc., in response to requirements of the Public Service Commission and the U.S. District Court. They reported an adjusted annual fatality estimate for bats during the 2012 study of 3.04 (90% CI = 1.89, 7.44) fatalities/turbine/year. The adjusted annual fatality estimate for all birds was 1.79 (90% CI = 1.46, 2.24) fatalities/turbine/year.

It was discovered some years that the high bat mortality at Appalachian ridge top wind turbine installations correlates with certain meteorological conditions and could apparently be mitigated by curtailing operation at sufficiently low wind speeds, an opportunity for “adaptive management “ This report bears this out. It says “The turbine operational protocols implemented during the 2012 monitoring period resulted in bat mortality far below the regional average bat mortality recorded at other wind generation facilities. BRE modified turbine operational protocols so that turbine blades were fully feathered below wind speeds of 6.9 m/s (15.2 mph) from 1/2 hour before sunset to 1,2 hour after sunrise” and that “The bat fatality rate at the Project was approximately 89% less than the average for other annualized West Virginia projects.” A similar comparison between Beech Ridge and the Northeastern region showed a mortality reduction of 73%.

The Highlands Conservancy was involved in this welcome development. In 2006, the Wind Energy Committee advocated such adaptive management to Beech Ridge Energy management as possible grounds for reducing opposition to Beech Ridge Energy’s project. At a contentious spring 2006 Board meeting, however, their effort was rejected by the Conservancy Board, who did not wish to compromise. However, adaptive management happened anyway, with the positive 2012 result.

Source:  By Peter Shoenfeld | The Higlands Voice | April, 2013 | wvhighlands.org

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon