Associated Press broke the news: Duke Energy pleads guilty to killing 14 endangered golden eagles at Wyoming wind farms. Golden eagles are federally protected, as are American bald eagles.
In the case of the Highland Wind Farm in the town of Forest in Wisconsin’s St. Croix County, developer Emerging Energies underreported the number of federally protected eagle nests. Town residents can prove at least six. That is twice the number of nests reported by the developer. There is little doubt our eagle population will be decimated.
Eagles are not the only casualties. Bats, vital to agriculture for insect control, are facing a dual life challenge as the white nose virus is now in Wisconsin and low-frequency pressure from wind turbines can implode their lungs.
There is no federal protection for the people, livestock or pets living near wind turbines. I believe the mission of green energy has been forsaken for green dollars and has created new health issues and environmental stress resulting from improperly sited wind farms.
Proposed and current legislation is stripping the ability of communities to make decisions in the interest of their residents and environment. The residents of the town of Forest will not stand idle or allow our health or environment to be compromised for a fistful of dollars in the name of green energy.
Brenda Salseg
town of Forest
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/11/29/wind-farms-a-big-problem-for-eagles-and-bats/