Janice Pease (315)328-5793 [email protected] 130 Beebe Rd, Potsdam, N.Y
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Janice Pease (315)328-5793 [email protected] 130 Beebe Rd, Potsdam, N.Y. 13676 August 16, 2018 Via Email Honorable Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary to the PSC Re: Case 16- F-0268, Application of Atlantic Wind LLC for a certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need Pursuant to Article 10 for Construction of the North Ridge Wind Energy Project in the Towns of Parishville and Hopkinton, St. Lawrence County. Dear Secretary Burgess: Industrial wind turbines are clearly a danger to all animal species, the most obvious being birds. From the beginning, of what we locals call “the wind battle”, those of us who vehemently opposed the project tried to explain the numerous negative impacts that these giant machines would have on both the local and migratory avian species. Many of us are environmentalist who spend much of our time outdoors observing these elegant creatures and want to protect them as well as their habitats and flyways. I live just down the road from 3 huge corn fields that become salt and peppered with Canadian and snow geese every year. I knew the turbines would negatively impact those beautiful birds. I had watched videos of birds being struck by blades, carcasses being picked up around the base of turbines, read testimonies by people who remove the corpses, and read studies about the effects turbines have on all bird species/habitats. You do not have to be a biologist to know that all creatures respond to stimuli and the turbines would definitely be an outside force/ stressor that would have caused the geese to alter their route or the reduced their flock due to collision. The flocks soar the skies for weeks in preparation for their long journey south, some young ones among elders are learning the ropes. Odds are against them when faced with repeated interaction with a moving obstacle of that dimension/height. The turbine companies choose the same farm fields as the geese and this collision would have affected the geese without question. This is the most obvious negative impact to the health of the geese population, but other aspects have been studied. Just being within proximity to a turbine causes physiological changes (weight, hormone levels, immune system, cardiovascular, etc.). I have attached a study that explains what effects were witnessed among 2 different gaggles. The results are not at all surprising if you have any understanding of the function of hormones within the body and how creatures react to their environments. I have also attached testimony from individuals who witnessed the slaughter of geese by turbines. Now, we know that hundreds of thousands of birds are killed a year by turbines, accepting these numbers is immoral. With so many avian species on the decline and that effect on the planet, it seems unconscionable to continue placing these turbines in migratory fly zones and habitats. I believe these creatures matter. I have observed them for years, they are amazing beings who carry out intense migration , their v formations are beautiful works of functional art. I am amazed. For locals, geese formations in the fall signify the seasonal shift as much as fiery red leaves. Like many creatures affected by industrialization and human encroachment, geese mate for life and create incredible bonds with their offspring. These relationships matter. If one is killed the other is affected. While apathy is the greatest plague among humans, empathy is the cure (which needs to be nurtured). Industrial wind is killing these beautiful, innocent, and graceful creatures… that blood is on the hands of any accomplice of this money scheme. One cannot turn a blind eye to this level of environmental carnage and not be guilty themselves. Industrial wind is contributing to climate change as well, further condemning us to environmental degradation resulting from greed. How can we, as a species, justify the sacrifice of so many innocent lives for greed? (rhetorical question) The link below is of a human and his glider with geese flying in formation. You will see the flap of their perfect wings and hear the wind as they swim through it. video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYdPnuGXo78 Respectfully, Janice Pease Janice Pease *electronically signed Attached: Photos of geese on Beebe road and in the area Attachments: Impacts of wind farms on swans and geese: a review EILEEN C. REES Preliminary studies on the reaction of growing geese (Anser anser f. domestica) to the proximity of wind turbines J. Mikołajczak1, S. Borowski2, J. Marć-Pieńkowska1, G. Odrowąż-Sypniewska3, Z. Bernacki4, J. Siódmiak3, P. Szterk1 Green Dilemma of Wind Farm on Avifauna: Future Ecological Considerations of Wind Energy Expansion in Ethiopia Getachew Mulualem Wind farms: a slaughter kept hidden from the public World Council for Nature Dead geese seen on roads near turbines Watertown Daily Times Opinion: Wind farms will impact migratory route for birds, says Hopkinton man NCN Witness observes Wolfe Island Turbine Canada Geese slaughter 37 Impacts of wind farms on swans and geese: a review EILEEN C. REES Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Martin Mere, Burscough, near Ormskirk, Lancashire L40 0TA, UK. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract This review considers data published on the effects of offshore and onshore windfarms on swans and geese and finds that the information available is patchy. Of 72 swans or geese reported as collision victims at 46 wind farms, most (39 birds) were reported at 23 wind farms in Germany where such data are collated. Post-construction monitoring was undertaken for ≤ 1 year at 67% of 33 sites, making it difficult to test for cumulative effects or annual variation in collision rates. Site use by the birds was measured at only nine of 46 wind farms where collisions by swans and geese were monitored or recorded. Displacement distances of feeding birds at wintering sites ranged from 100–600 m, but preliminary evidence suggested that large-scale displacement also occurs, with fewer swans and geese returning to areas after wind farms were installed. Eight studies of flight behaviour all reported changes in flight-lines for swans or geese initially seen heading towards the turbines, at distances ranging from a few hundred metres to 5 km; 50–100% of individuals/groups avoided entering the area between turbines, but in some cases the sample sizes were small. Key knowledge gaps remain, including whether wind farm installation has a consistently negative effect on the number of birds returning to a wintering area; whether flight avoidance behaviour varies with weather conditions, wind farm size, habituation and the alignment of the turbines; provision of robust avoidance rate measures; and the extent to which serial wind farm development has a cumulative impact on specific swan and goose populations. It is therefore recommended that: 1) post-construction monitoring and dissemination of results be undertaken routinely, 2) the extent to which wind farms cause larger-scale displacement of birds from traditional wintering areas be assessed more rigorously, 3) further detailed studies of flight-lines in the vicinity of wind farms should be undertaken, both during migration and for birds commuting between feeding areas and the roost, to provide a more rigorous assessment of collision and avoidance rates for inclusion in collision risk models, and 4) the combination of collision mortality and habitat loss at all wind farms in the species’ range be analysed in determining whether they have a significant effect on the population. Key words: avoidance, collisions, displacement, offshore wind farms, terrestrial wind farms. ©Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Wildfowl (2012) 62: 37–72 38 Swans, geese and wind farms Wind farms have been installed increasingly energy has been a challenge for across Europe during the late 20th and environmental conservation organisations. early 21st centuries, as governments seek Increasing evidence shows climate change to secure renewable energy supplies having deleterious effects on wildlife and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to (Parmesan & Yohe 2003; Root et al. 2003; combat climate change. The European Thomas et al. 2004) yet injudicious location Commission’s Renewable Energy Roadmap of wind farms may have detrimental effects (EU 2007) set a target of 20% of EU energy on some species, including birds (Langston to be generated from renewable sources by & Pullan 2003; Barrios & Rodriguez 2004; 2020 (EU 2008). Wind energy accounted for Garthe & Hüppop 2004; Hötker et al. 2006; 3.7% of EU electricity generation by early Sterner et al. 2007; Bright et al. 2008; 2008, and the European Commission’s goal EEA 2009). Adverse effects include direct of increasing that share to 12% by 2020 is collision mortality, habitat loss/degradation, regarded as achievable (European Wind displacement from feeding areas, barrier Energy Association; EWEA 2008). Annual effects (birds flying around wind farms installations of wind power have increased and thus potentially increasing energy steadily from 814 MW in 1995 to 93,957 expenditure), and disturbance (see reviews MW installed across Europe in 2011, with in Langston & Pullan 2003; Bright et al. the largest installed capacity in Germany, 2006; Drewitt & Langston 2006; Fox et al. followed by Spain, Italy, France and the UK 2006; Inger et al. 2009). The risk of turbine (EWEA 2012). Growth projections for collisions varies across species (perhaps wind-generated energy vary substantially dependent on visual acuity and depth depending on the analytical methods used perception at the time; Martin 2011), and and the scope for technological progress wind farm location, with potential for there (EWEA 2009), but current capacity is being population-level effects in some cases expected to treble by 2020 (EWEA 2008). (Bright et al. 2008), and raptors being Within the UK, 348 wind farms (332 particularly at risk of colliding with the onshore, 16 offshore) were operational by turbines (Sterner et al.