Like an eagle, to the sea....
"Wind-energy eagle rule prompts lawsuit" by Dina Cappiello | Associated Press June 20, 2014
WASHINGTON — A conservation group sued the Obama administration Thursday over a new federal rule that allows wind-energy companies to seek approval to kill or injure eagles for 30 years.
The American Bird Conservancy argues that the rule, which extended by 25 years the length of time companies may kill or injure eagles without fear of prosecution, is illegal because the US Fish and Wildlife Service failed to evaluate the consequences and ensure it would not damage eagle populations. The Obama administration classified the rule as an administrative change, excluding it from a full environmental review.
‘‘In the government’s rush to expand wind energy, shortcuts were taken in implementing this rule that should not have been allowed,’’ said Michael Hutchins, the national coordinator of the conservancy’s wind energy program.
Under President Obama, wind has exploded as a pollution-free energy source that can help reduce greenhouse gases. But it is not without environmental costs.
An Associated Press investigation last year documented dozens of eagle deaths at wind farms, findings later confirmed by federal biologists. Each one is a violation of federal law, but the Obama administration to date has prosecuted only one company.
That looks damn near impeachable.
The industry said the rule helps protect eagles because, in exchange for legal protection for the lifespan of wind farms and other projects, companies obtaining permits would be required to make efforts to avoid killing birds.
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Globe been making me gassy:
"Calif. wind farm gets eagle permit" Associated Press June 27, 2014
FRESNO, Calif. — A California wind farm will become the first in the nation to avoid prosecution if eagles are injured or die when they run into the giant turning blades, the Fish and Wildlife Service said Thursday.
The Shiloh IV Wind Project LLC, 60 miles east of San Francisco, will receive a special permit allowing up to five golden eagles to be accidentally killed over five years. Previously, such a violation could potentially draw criminal charges and discourage private investment in wind farms known for catching birds in their rotors.
The permit will require the facility to take steps to prevent eagle injuries and deaths from electrocution by retrofitting 133 power poles. The permits are not required of wind farms, and federal prosecutors have only once filed criminal charges against a wind farm, in Wyoming.
Agency director Daniel Ashe said the permit encourages development of renewable energy while requiring the wind company to take steps to protect eagles from turbines and power lines. The move will help California reach its goal of producing one-third of its energy from renewable sources by 2020, he said.
Under President Obama, wind energy has exploded as a pollution-free energy source that can help reduce the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.
How about grounding all the campaign and political flights as well as shutting down the greatest gasser on planet earth, the U.S. war machine you head?
Hello?
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And I'm not even mentioning the contradictory evidence of mild temperatures and brutal winters, blah, blah (only helpful when explaining further wealth concentration at the top), as they really try to get that carbon tax and thus carbon credit trading market and taxes that will result in a huge pile of money for Wall Street to play with that is literally created out of thin air.
I suppose dead birds are the price to pay for cleaner energy; I just wish this nation and its governments had not wasted trillions upon trillion on wars, Wall Street, and all the rest. Even the green money was meant for 1% pocket.
You ask me what to do? I don't know anymore. I have no more solutions, and the ones I offer are dismissed by the $lavi$h political $ervants. The only thing to do, like in life with a addict, is await their $elf-de$truction and hope they don't spoil the planet and take us all with them.
I better come down from such lofty hopes and dreams.....
