OT. Article on MSN. Plans to kill golden eagles

[Karla]

Just saw this on MSN today. Orders to kill Golden Eagles in another state as they are going to allow wind farm developer ok'd by the feds. Can't believe this. Of course conservationist are on it.

Karla

[Karla]

Here is the article.

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/ ... den-eagles" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Cowper]

Well, only "sort of". The way I read it, they are not going to allow any intentional killing of eagles; what they are saying is they are going to issue the required permits to build the windmills, and they are not going to arrest anybody or shut the plants down when up to three eagles are "accidentally" killed by the spinning blades, over a 5 year period.

[Fish]

If they burned coal to generate that electricity, there would be a zero percent chance of eagles being murdered by giant whirling blades (versus a very, very small chance). And warmer global temps could actually improve hunting prospects for the eagles.

Or a large dam. Way better idea since a new lake would create a veritable bald eagle buffet!

Are conservationists on that?

- Fish

"Perfect is the enemy of good." -- Voltaire

[Fish]

Karla, sorry for my prior post being so sarcastic. Reading it this morning, I realized that I must have been as irritable as a Clemson fan last night. :) I know you love golden eagles, and I'm glad that good folks like you have been watching out for those majestic birds in the past decades so they are still around (they're my favorite animal from when I was a little boy, after I watched one swoop down and kill a badger on a National Geographic special - awesome!) But to me that article points out exactly how conservationists, government government regulators, and companies actually can work together to find a balance that works for both people and endangered animals. To paint it as government licensing companies to murder eagles seems like a pretty extreme viewpoint. If conservationists become extremists, I fear we'll meet far fewer conservation goals in trying to balance human prosperity and nature. Seems like the conservationists in the article have it right - expressing "cautious optimism" about a regulation that appears to be supporting wind power (a good thing for us and for eagles) while also making companies (at least the one in the article) think about harm they may cause to an endangered species and how to mitigate it.

- Fish

[okieboater]

Maybe we should be spending some of the money we are spending for foreign made wind generators and solar power cells to clean up our coal fired generators.

Since half or more of our US electricity comes from coal fired plants and due to the financial situation our country is in they are not going away, cleaning up the coal burners might save some wildlife and for sure keep more of our US money in the US.

Don't get me wrong I am all for efficient cost effective wind and solar generation, I want more of it but want it done with US based industry not off shore in China, Europe or elsewhere.

[Al Donaldson]

Hey, Dave!

It is not all that bad (about the wind generators!) Currently a good percentage of the blades (in this area, at least) are being built right here in (Yankeeland, sadly enough) Iowa.

Regards,

al

[okieboater]

Al, that is good news for sure.

However, here is the list of top ten producers of wind turbines.

Top 10

Top 10 wind turbine manufacturers by annual market share (installed capacity) in 2010 by BTM Consult:[1]

Denmark Vestas 14.8%
China Sinovel 11.1%
United States GE Wind Energy 9.6%
China Goldwind 9.5%
Germany Enercon 7.2%
India Suzlon Group 6.9% (inc Suzlon Energy (India) and RePower (Germany))
China Dongfang Electric 6.7%
Spain Gamesa 6.6%
Denmark/Germany Siemens Wind Power 5.9%
China United Power (联合动力) 4.2%

And, with GE not paying taxes here in the US and moving more and more work overseas - you guys are in luck for now with what you have.

[Half Ton]

Karla, sorry for my prior post being so sarcastic. Reading it this morning, I realized that I must have been as irritable as a Clemson fan last night. :) I know you love golden eagles, and I'm glad that good folks like you have been watching out for those majestic birds in the past decades so they are still around (they're my favorite animal from when I was a little boy, after I watched one swoop down and kill a badger on a National Geographic special - awesome!) But to me that article points out exactly how conservationists, government government regulators, and companies actually can work together to find a balance that works for both people and endangered animals. To paint it as government licensing companies to murder eagles seems like a pretty extreme viewpoint. If conservationists become extremists, I fear we'll meet far fewer conservation goals in trying to balance human prosperity and nature. Seems like the conservationists in the article have it right - expressing "cautious optimism" about a regulation that appears to be supporting wind power (a good thing for us and for eagles) while also making companies (at least the one in the article) think about harm they may cause to an endangered species and how to mitigate it.

- Fish

Whatever....Eagle killer!

No, seriously that's some good perspective there.

[JasonK]

Hey, Dave!

It is not all that bad (about the wind generators!) Currently a good percentage of the blades (in this area, at least) are being built right here in (Yankeeland, sadly enough) Iowa.

Reagrds,

al

Ahhh yes, but many wind turbine blades and components are made in good ol' Arkansas too.

[hollohead]

I really like the way Fish approaches these issues, I use to consider myself an environmentalist until extreemism pushed me away. The best debate on climate change I have ever read came from this forum, and Fish's style is what kept it from becoming a p--sing contest and kept it civil. So much more can be accomplished thru reasoned debate and accepting that comprimise is essential for progress.

[paddledog]

And warmer global temps could actually improve hunting prospects for the eagles.

Fish told me they taste like chicken.........

[Fish]

Fish told me they taste like chicken.........

No, that wasn't eagles, that was condors. Eagles taste like ivory-billed woodpecker.

- Fish

[prophet]

i would like to add that reports of eagles being fracked are blown out of proportion