Environmental Problems
Wind turbines destroy ecosystems, kill birds and bats, and disturb wild animals.
Photos of environmental destruction from turbine construction.
 |
| A single turbine requires clear cutting 4-6 acres with another 35-75 acres for infrastructure - access roads, tension lines, irremovable pool-size concrete bases, substations, etc. Source. |
Local Environmental Impacts
- Wind plant infrastructure creates an industrial nightmare in wild and natural settings:
- Construction of 70ft wide access roads
- Installation of new transmission lines
- Construction of power substations
- Excavations and concrete for turbine foundations
- 4-6 acres of forest is clearcut for each turbine.
- Construction of a 25-turbine wind facility clears enough trees to fill 100 football fields
Bird and Bat Deaths
 |
| Two griffon vultures killed by turbines in Navarre, Spain. One of them has been sliced in half by the blade. Source. |
- Turbines are proven to kill birds and bats.
- Turbines are proven to disrupt wild animals and natural habitats.
"This is a double standard that more people—and not just bird lovers—should be paying attention to. In protecting America's wildlife, federal law-enforcement officials are turning a blind eye to the harm done by "green" energy."
-- Windmills Are Killing Our Birds
Robert Bryce WSJ.com"Once thought to have practically no adverse environmental effects, it is now recognized that wind power facilities can have adverse impacts—particularly on wildlife, and most significantly on birds and bats. "
-- Impacts on Wildlife and Government Responsibilities for Regulating Development and Protecting Wildlife
United States Government Accountability Office, September 2005"At wind power-generating facilities in Appalachia and California, wind turbines have killed large numbers of migratory birds and bats. Wind power facilities may also have other impacts on wildlife through alterations of habitat. Habitat destruction and modification is a leading threat to the continued survival of wildlife species in the United States. "
-- Impacts on Wildlife and Government Responsibilities for Regulating Development and Protecting Wildlife
United States Government Accountability Office, September 2005
Industrial wind has no material impact on global warming or carbon emissions.
- Traditional power plants cannot be decommissioned or replaced by wind turbines.
- Wind electricity production rate is in constant flux and the power grid already has significant demand flux.
- The grid must maintain balance between constantly demand flux and constant wind flux.
- The grid compensates for wind flux with conventional generation, typically fossil-fired plants, working inefficiently in overtime and producing substantial carbon emissions in the process.
- Backing up wind turbines creates more carbon emission than producing the same electricity through traditional methods alone.
There are 100k turbines in operation in the world. If they reduce c02, why hasn't the wind industry provided proof ?