tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post4675265240207143585..comments2024-03-28T00:15:16.769-07:00Comments on Mojave Desert Blog: Sierra Club Lobbying for Wind Industry; Wind Industry Lobbying Against WildlifeShaun G.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17039896758011526968noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-79216683848914866422014-08-23T20:55:58.436-07:002014-08-23T20:55:58.436-07:00Using existing rooftops is the epitome of common s...Using existing rooftops is the epitome of common sense conservation policy.<br /><br />I can't trust anyone who says they're an environmentalist and wants to see so much new land disturbed! I find myself temporarily on the side of conservative science deniers when they criticize wind turbines (even though they do it to jab at environmentalism). Anything that thwarts building more monster towers will be looked upon as wise down the road.<br /><br />Europeans are already saturated and wanting moratoriums. The U.S. is seen as still being full of wide open spaces but it's all relative.AJ021https://www.blogger.com/profile/07365019712627660851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-63588173580615124912014-08-23T20:51:02.375-07:002014-08-23T20:51:02.375-07:00The argument that "other things kill birds&qu...The argument that "other things kill birds" therefore wind turbines are somewhat trivial is classic green denial. Don't assume that only AGW deniers lie for their ideology.<br /><br />First of all, birds (and don't forget large numbers of bats) killed by wind turbines die IN ADDITION TO existing causes. Study the word cumulative. If A, B and C are killing flying creatures, D must now be added.<br /><br />Secondly, wind turbines are still in their infancy and factor D (above) keeps growing. You can't derive a benchmark from what you see today. Several million or more turbines could littler the future global landscape and they'll be installed in areas where birds (and bats) once flew freely, no doubt exceeding the body count from existing sources. Solar mirror plants like Ivanpah in CA are causing similar problems with "streamers" that get cooked while flying through.<br /><br />I also question how many birds are killed by skyscraper windows. When you walk downtown in a large city, how many dead birds litter the ground? Where is that claim coming from? Large buildings in dense areas don't catch birds off guard the same way as wind turbines, which appear to have a lot of space between them from a bird's eye view. Bats are actually attracted to the lights and noises of turbines at night. Bat mortality could prove to be an even worse concern and insect populations could explode if too many die.<br /><br />Environmentalism has lost its way if it keeps putting a positive spin on huge contraptions that were never part of nature. These aren't quaint old fashioned windmills made of wood that mostly blended with their environs instead of blending airborne animals.AJ021https://www.blogger.com/profile/07365019712627660851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-59953283446164449502014-08-23T20:30:33.406-07:002014-08-23T20:30:33.406-07:00Let's not forget that bird kills are just one ...Let's not forget that bird kills are just one aspect of the physical intrusion on the landscape. Hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of acres are targeted for wind development. If plans go full bore, there won't be many places where you can avoid seeing them at some distance.<br /><br />Offshore wind is no cure since they'll turn smooth sea horizons into prickly vistas, erasing any hope that one can still gaze at unfettered nature. We'll surely see "wind turbine removal plugins" for Photoshop, and I think movie studios have already had to edit them out with CGI, or find different locations. Nature will become virtual more and more as we witness industrial power plants in all directions. Many have called this a Faustian bargain and I think that's the perfect way to describe it.AJ021https://www.blogger.com/profile/07365019712627660851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-76977261297216327912012-11-25T12:28:30.153-08:002012-11-25T12:28:30.153-08:00Kevin,
So because other threats-- such as house ca...Kevin,<br />So because other threats-- such as house cats -- also kill birds, it's okay to ignore the damage caused by wind turbines? How many eagles or bats does a house cat kill each year?<br /><br />I am not advocating against clean energy, I am advocating for more responsible deployment. You mention the L.A. Basin -- I have been there many times. According to a UCLA study, there is enough suitable rooftop space in the County of LA to meet its energy demand with rooftop solar. It's time that our renewable energy policies recognize more sustainable alternatives.<br /><br />Instead of providing a billion dollars a year in tax credits to the wind industry, or billions more to the fossil fuel industry, we could be putting that money toward rooftop solar, energy efficiency upgrades, or solar on already-disturbed lands. Shaun G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17039896758011526968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-26234001187757480062012-11-25T10:38:56.653-08:002012-11-25T10:38:56.653-08:00Stupid post! Followed stupider, group-think replie...Stupid post! Followed stupider, group-think replies!<br /><br />Wind turbines are the least of our problems. REAL environmentalist see the Sierra Club as green energy obstructionist and you wish them to be less rationale? I hope you realize this kind of alarmist nonsense is exactly what the fossil fuel industry would pay you post. So why don't take their money and buy yourself a nice Tesla S? Or do you need a planet raping 4wd SUV so you can tear-up (commune with nature)in your beloved deserts. <br /><br />And by the way, do your homework when it comes to bird strikes. A million birds is nothing! House cats, radio towers, skyscrapers kill hundreds of million birds every year. If you care about birds de-claw your house cats or would that be too unnatural? Check with Audubon Society of USFWS if you want verification what is really killing birds. Would you agree that species extinction is worse? Wind Turbines aren't going to wipe our entire species of birds but climate change will. <br /><br />Those that are truly worried about other Eagles and other raptors would save a hell of lot more of these birds by lobby NRA and hunting industry to stop using lead ammunition. Big game gut piles and rabbits killed by sport hunters kill far more raptors than wind turbines. Furthermore thousands of raptors are killed by automobiles when they can't lift off of road-kill fast enough. Fencing highways and interstates for rabbits would prevent most of these kills. If you spent anytime in the actual deserts or even just skimming websites regarding raptor rehabilitation you'd know this. Making wind turbines your boogie man shows that you don't care about eagles enough to get off the ignorance bandwagon. <br /><br />Ever wondered why so few birds in L.A. Basin? Next time you are in L.A. take a deep breath of that wind turbine free orange and brown air. Does it taste okay to you? Birds are highly sensitive to air pollution.<br /><br />Our grandkids will be sure to NOT thank you for posts like this that speed up the ruination of world we'll bequeath to them. Cheers!"The Dark Ranger" https://www.blogger.com/profile/11299212941739842237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-69370467934875015482012-08-01T07:46:04.763-07:002012-08-01T07:46:04.763-07:00great post. shame on Sierra Club.great post. shame on Sierra Club.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-21934190534423758442012-08-01T07:44:22.341-07:002012-08-01T07:44:22.341-07:00Great post. Shame on Sierra Club.Great post. Shame on Sierra Club.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-143472926771722472012-05-29T16:42:05.516-07:002012-05-29T16:42:05.516-07:00For conservation groups like Audubon and the Sierr...For conservation groups like Audubon and the Sierra Club, waving a flag and making a lot of noise is a rallying point for member donations. It can also get them settlement or mitigation money from lawsuits. Finding solutions is secondary to compromise and compromise equals funding.Jim Wiegandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06169123898727390580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5311929704697522769.post-10810942230056377792012-05-28T09:44:19.613-07:002012-05-28T09:44:19.613-07:00Hiding the slaughter
The USFWS is not the USFWS w...Hiding the slaughter<br /><br />The USFWS is not the USFWS we think it is. While most of the lower level employees are very dedicated in their service towards wildlife, it is the upper brass that need to be exposed. These puppets are deliberately steering their boat for an insane wind energy plan that has no chance of ever solving Americas energy needs. All this is not for America's energy needs and never has been. It a just another way to market energy and to satisfy the greed of stakeholders.<br /><br />For 28 years the USFWS has been sitting on their hands watching the wind industry survive with their lies about bird mortality and bogus studies. If you do not believe any of this, than the fact that this industry still only has USFWS approved "Voluntary guidelines" should convince anyone. These Voluntary guidelines are there for only one purpose, so the industry can hide their slaughter of eagles and protected birds. <br /><br />In addition this agency's policy of allowing public comments for environmental impact issues is a mockery because everything has already been decided behind closed doors. In other words, this government agency is corrupt. Communities across America need to understand this process if they want to save their eagles because there will be no help from this agency.<br /><br />There will also be no help from wildlife groups because their leaders are also steering their boats, with their millions of members, away from any solutions. If you do not want to believe it, just take a look on all their web sites and read what they have to say about wind energy. I think group members should then ask or demand from group directors, an accounting of wind industry related donations, Mitigation Money from Wind projects, and settlements from meaningless lawsuits.Jim Wiegandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06169123898727390580noreply@blogger.com