The Saga of the Altamont Continues

Like most wind folks, I have mixed feelings about this situation.  On the one hand, you obviously don't want to be killing birds if you can avoid it.  On the other hand, almost anything that sticks out of the ground kills birds.  Especially younger ones that don't have the flying thing down as well as they might later in life.  Also I've read that, at least in the earlier reports, that the kill rate was not "biologically significant".  In other words, it was sustainable by the local ecosystem.  Also no endangered species were noted.

Of course the whole counting process is a bit controversial.  Checking on the ground is hardly the most reliable method when a coyote can come by and clean things up.  Also it appears that areas with no wind turbines are not used as a control in at least some of the studies.  Birds do die of natural causes too.  The wide range of variation noted in the estimations is telling on this point. Hopefully the new technology developed in Denmark to detect collisions of not only birds but bats directly will put an end to that bit of uncertainty.  Uses infrared technology as I recall.

The idea of going to fewer larger and taller turbines makes sense to me in terms of reduced bird kills (especially per unit of wind energy generated).  And they look a lot nicer too, imo.  The slow rate of re-powering in the Altamont also is having a negative impact on wind power development in the Plains as many of those tried and tested, refurbished first generation wind farm turbines are a very nice options for farms and small businesses.

The Deadly Toll of Wind Power - SF Chronicle - 02 Jan 08

"It's been nearly a year since a controversial legal settlement was forged among wildlife groups, wind companies and Alameda County regulators. That agreement, opposed by some parties to the dispute, promised to reduce deaths of golden eagles and three other raptor species by 50 percent in three years and called for the shutdown or relocation of the 300 or so most lethal of the approximately 5,000 windmills at Altamont.

But five scientists appointed by the county say the settlement and accompanying efforts to reduce bird deaths are not on track to meet the 50 percent goal, and they recently surveyed the Altamont to determine which additional turbines should be removed or relocated to spots less likely to kill birds."

The Saga of the Altamont Continues

Like most wind folks, I have mixed feelings about this situation.  On the one hand, you obviously don't want to be killing birds if you can avoid it.  On the other hand, almost anything that sticks out of the ground kills birds.  Especially younger ones that don't have the flying thing down as well as they might later in life.  Also I've read that, at least in the earlier reports, that the kill rate was not "biologically significant".  In other words, it was sustainable by the local ecosystem.  Also no endangered species were noted.

Of course the whole counting process is a bit controversial.  Checking on the ground is hardly the most reliable method when a coyote can come by and clean things up.  Also it appears that areas with no wind turbines are not used as a control in at least some of the studies.  Birds do die of natural causes too.  The wide range of variation noted in the estimations is telling on this point. Hopefully the new technology developed in Denmark to detect collisions of not only birds but bats directly will put an end to that bit of uncertainty.  Uses infrared technology as I recall.

The idea of going to fewer larger and taller turbines makes sense to me in terms of reduced bird kills (especially per unit of wind energy generated).  And they look a lot nicer too, imo.  The slow rate of re-powering in the Altamont also is having a negative impact on wind power development in the Plains as many of those tried and tested, refurbished first generation wind farm turbines are a very nice options for farms and small businesses.

The Deadly Toll of Wind Power - SF Chronicle - 02 Jan 08

"It's been nearly a year since a controversial legal settlement was forged among wildlife groups, wind companies and Alameda County regulators. That agreement, opposed by some parties to the dispute, promised to reduce deaths of golden eagles and three other raptor species by 50 percent in three years and called for the shutdown or relocation of the 300 or so most lethal of the approximately 5,000 windmills at Altamont.

But five scientists appointed by the county say the settlement and accompanying efforts to reduce bird deaths are not on track to meet the 50 percent goal, and they recently surveyed the Altamont to determine which additional turbines should be removed or relocated to spots less likely to kill birds."

Germany Tests 100% Renewable Potential

Where there's a will, there's almost always a way.  Time will tell if this is one of them.  Certainly looks promising.

Germany is Doing It: Reliable Distributed Power Based on 100% Renewables - Biofuel News - 02 Jan 08

"Scientists from the University of Kassel prove that Germany can power itself entirely by clean renewables in a secure way. In an ongoing experiment called the KombiKraftwerk ('Combined Power Plant'), they link 36 decentralised biogas plants, wind, solar and hydropower installations in a robust network to demonstrate that distributed power can replace both fossil fuels and nuclear power."

Germany Tests 100% Renewable Potential

Where there's a will, there's almost always a way.  Time will tell if this is one of them.  Certainly looks promising.

Germany is Doing It: Reliable Distributed Power Based on 100% Renewables - Biofuel News - 02 Jan 08

"Scientists from the University of Kassel prove that Germany can power itself entirely by clean renewables in a secure way. In an ongoing experiment called the KombiKraftwerk ('Combined Power Plant'), they link 36 decentralised biogas plants, wind, solar and hydropower installations in a robust network to demonstrate that distributed power can replace both fossil fuels and nuclear power."