| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Pulling the plug on wind farm near Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge was the right move
Credit: The Kansas City Star | 09/25/2014 | www.kansascity.com ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
A developer has appropriately dropped its controversial plan to build a large wind-power project near the Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge.
Wind is a desirable renewable resource, which can help wean the region and the nation from fossil fuels that create harmful pollution.
However, the proposed wind farm’s large turbine blades would have threatened the lives of migrating snow geese, trumpeter swans, pelicans and other flying species, trumping the need to construct it there. The project also could have disrupted migratory patterns.
Now, the 7,400-acre refuge’s wetlands, 100 miles north of Kansas City, will continue to offer people a unique place to enjoy nature.
The project would have boosted wind energy production and brought some crucial economic development to Holt County and northwest Missouri. Still, the fears of bird lovers and environmentalists were well-founded. As they accurately note, the wind blows very hard elsewhere in this region. Developers can find locations other than near Squaw Creek to construct more wind farms.
We also repeat our recommendation for Missouri to create a siting board that would review and permit placements of future wind-power projects.
They are vital investments in the state’s energy-producing future. This project was just in the wrong location.
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 Contributions |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=66932 ]
