Danish study shows virtually no harm to birds...at world's 2 biggest offshore wind farms

[jpak]

DANISH STUDY SHOWS VIRTUALLY NO HARM TO BIRDS, FISH OR SEALS AT WORLD'S TWO BIGGEST OFFSHORE WIND FARMS

Government looks to increase use of wind power to 50% by 2025 with most projects located offshore

http://www.world-wire.com/news/0612040002.html

BOSTON, MA, December 4, 2006 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- Danish energy and environment government agencies have released their findings at the conclusion of an eight-year study on the impacts of the world’s two largest offshore wind farms, Horns Rev and Nysted, on the aquatic ecosystem including birds, fish, seals and benthic life.

These findings were released at the Final Results: The Danish Monitoring Programme conference held in Denmark on November 27-29.

Craig Olmsted, Cape Wind Vice President of Project Development, attended the conference and said, “Listening to the scientists at the conference who had done the studies it was really clear – offshore wind farms in Denmark have been good neighbors, to birds, fish and people.”

The Danish findings are contained in a report that has been made public entitled, “Danish Offshore Wind – Key Environmental Issues” dated November, 2006, it was prepared by the Danish Energy Authority, Danish Forest and Nature Agency, Dong Energy and Vattenfall (the companies that own the two offshore wind farms) and the report also contains commentary from the International Advisory Panel of Experts on Marine Ecology which gave the report a positive evaluation.

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[Ian David]

1. What about bats? We need bats, too. n/t

[One_Life_To_Give]

2. Do Bats Fly 3+ miles offshore?

There's not much food for them out there. Virtually no bugs past a few hundred yards out.

[Ian David]

3. Do some of them migrate across the ocean? n/t

[jpak]

4. There is only one wind farm in the US where bat mortality has been an issue (in West Virginia)

That can be remedied by shutting down the turbines during peak bat migration periods (Aug-Sept) or using bat alarm calls to keep them away.

Off-shore bat mortality was not an issue in Denmark...

[One_Life_To_Give]

5. Also check Bat Migration Routes

I doubt we would have to shut down any single wind farm for a continuous 8 week period. Their migration routes and periods of use for each can be checked and likely have a much tighter tolerance.