Wind Farm May Get Permit To Kill Eagles

Thursday, December 5, 2013

It just seems un-American. Under the proposed permit, a Solano County Calif. wind farm would be allowed to kill up to five golden eagles over a five-year period. But the plan, drafted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is intended to be protective.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that in exchange for the eagle-take permit, Shiloh IV Wind Project must undertake a series of protective measures that include retrofitting 133 power poles to prevent electrocutions and installing audio and visual deterrents to scare off eagles, bats and migratory birds.

Fish and Wildlife estimate that currently, eight eagles per year are killed at the four Shiloh plants, most likely by flying into the windmills' blades. The Montezuma Hills region has several other wind farms, responsible for approximately 16 annual eagle deaths.

If the permit passes, it will be the first agreement of its kind. "I think it really does set a precedent," says Scott Flaherty, deputy assistant regional director of external affairs for Fish and Wildlife. "It shows the service can work with wind energy companies . . . to ensure that we conserve eagles and other wildlife."

Right now, it's an experiment. Eric Davis, assistant regional director for Fish and Wildlife, says in The Sacramento Bee: "We may learn that not as many eagles are taken as we anticipated. Or they may reach the five (killed) at year three and need to come back for a permit renewal earlier. We'll cross that bridge when we get there." BF