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Wind Power News: Wildlife
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Greek environmentalists say wind farms threaten brown bears
Greece’s push for alternative and sustainable energy sources will bring more wind farms but environmentalist groups Arcturos and Callisto said the sites could risk the habitats of brown bears and were not considered by the Environment Ministry. The organizations said the ministry instead has intervened in a national action plan for the brown bear, developed under the European Union’s LIFE program by removing references to the impact of the farms where the animals live. They also said that proposals to . . . Complete story »
ACK For Whales asks Supreme Court to hear appeal
First offshore wind case to go to Supreme Court since Loper Bright decision ended “Chevron deference.” Nantucket Residents Against Turbines (ACK For Whales), the grassroots Nantucket group fighting to prevent environmental ruin caused by offshore wind development (OSW), has asked the Supreme Court to hear its appeal of a lower court decision allowing federal agencies to disregard the Endangered Species Act in their rush to approve OSW projects. The petition asserts the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals wrongly allowed . . . Complete story »
Report recommends further research on impact of offshore wind farms on fish
The Scottish Government have published a report on the impact of off shore wind development on species of fish that undertake regular migrations between freshwater and marine environments. These include Atlantic salmon and sea trout. The report finds that the potential for negative impacts from sound and vibration on these fish associated with offshore wind farms are most likely during construction, with pile driving creating particularly loud sound pulses, which is relatively short term but intense. Potential impacts include behavioural . . . Complete story »
Austria limits windpower development to protect elk habitat
Schwarz-Blau in OÖ macht geplanten Windparks Garaus Windkraft darf nur dort gebaut werden, wo die Landesregierungen das erlauben. Am Freitag präsentierten die oberösterreichischen Landesräte Markus Achleitner (ÖVP) und Manfred Haimbuchner (FPÖ) den lang erwarteten Zonenplan. Für die Windbranche sind die nun ausgewiesenen Gebiete eine herbe Enttäuschung. „Zwei Jahre Gaskrise zeigen eines: wir brauchen Preisstabilität, Versorgungssicherheit und einen Technologieturbo. Bevölkerung und Unternehmen erwarten sich Lösungen von der Politik. Der präsentierte Ausschlusszonenplan lässt diese Erwartungen im Regen stehen“, führt Florian Maringer, Geschäftsführer . . . Complete story »
Are particle emissions from offshore wind farm blades harmful for blue mussels?
After several years of service under harsh weather conditions, the rotor blades of offshore wind parks are subjected to degradation and surface erosion, releasing sizeable quantities of particle emissions into the environment. A team of researchers led by the Alfred Wegener Institute has now investigated the effects of these particle on blue mussels – a species also being considered for the multi-use of wind parks for aquaculture. In the experiment, the mussels absorbed metals from the rotor blades’ coatings, as . . . Complete story »
Découverte d’un cadavre décapité de vautour dans les Pyrénées-Orientales
[After the discovery of a decapitated vulture involving a wind turbine in Prugnanes, the League for the Protection of Birds in the Pyrénées-Orientales shares its emotion and concerns.] À la suite de l’accident survenu à cause d’une éolienne à Prugnanes, la Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO) dans les Pyrénées-Orientales partage son émotion et ses inquiétudes. Tout comme le Groupe ornithologique du Roussillon (GOR), l’antenne locale de la Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO) agit au quotidien pour . . . Complete story »
Wind farm construction continues despite pending permit review
Environmental organisations on Friday reported ongoing construction of a wind farm in the Kelli Natura 2000 area, despite the fact that key permits are still pending re-evaluation. Terra Cypria and BirdLife Cyprus filed yet another complaint on Thursday about the ongoing construction of the wind farm within the Kellia State Forest in Larnaca and the Special Protection Zone of the Kosi – Pallourokampos area, which is part of the Natura 2000 Network for the protection of birdlife. According to Terra . . . Complete story »
Greece suspends three wind projects over biodiversity concerns
Greece’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy has revoked the environmental licenses for three wind power projects in region of Thrace following an appeal by three environmental organizations. The environmentalists are now calling on the ministry to suspend wind power projects in the areas affected by the 2023 wildfires, as well as neighboring areas, in order to preserve sensitive protected bird populations. In their appeal, the Hellenic Ornithological Society, the Society for the Protection of Biodiversity of Thrace, and WWF . . . Complete story »
Robbins Island devils under threat after multinational discloses sleight-of-hand offsets for impacts
In a Tasmanian hearing of the Joint Select Committee on Energy Matters on Monday, Robbins Island proposed developer ACEN’s Michael Connarty revealed that the company has proposed to offset 1,000 hectares on Robbins Island against impacts on the last disease-free population of Tasmanian Devil. “Dr Connarty has distilled the lunacy of this project. To offset the impact of a massive influx of vehicles, the disruption of habitat and the building of a bridge that exposes every devil on the island . . . Complete story »
Robbins Island wind farm ‘stuck in limbo’ as decision delayed to March 2025
The federal government has once again pushed back its decision on the proposed 100-turbine wind farm on Robbins Island in Tasmania’s north-west. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has announced a further delay until March 7, 2025, extending a deadline initially set for December 9. It follows a request by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek for more information from the project proponent, ACEN, regarding the impact on Tasmanian devil habitat. While the EPBC Act mandates a 30-day . . . Complete story »
