Environment & Energy

Bob Wallace

(549 posts)

28. Altamont Pass, a nasty start...

Wed Dec 14, 2011, 11:19 PM

Dec 2011

Lots of problems with Altamont Pass when the first turbines started going up there about 30 years ago.

It's an area where raptors hunt rodents and the first towers and turbines were bird killers. Lots (all?) of the first towers were grid structures, not the monopods now used. The birds would alight on one of the towers cross braces and then, spotting prey, would often launch themselves right into the spinning blades.

Additionally the early turbines were placed on low towers and due to their shorter length blades spun at a much faster rate than turbines now do. The fast spinning blades were hard to see.

Now those early turbines are mostly shut down. Many have already been taken down as the entire area gets refitted with much taller monopod towers and slower turning blades.

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Leading Bird Conservation Group Formally Petitions Feds to Regulate Wind Industry [View all] XemaSab Dec 2011 OP

I live next to a LARGE wind farm. I have never seen a bird hurt by it. Vincardog Dec 2011 #1

Not all windfarms are equal in this respect. Dead_Parrot Dec 2011 #2

ABC might be unduly influenced by antirenewable interests. kristopher Dec 2011 #9

Naturally, the American Wind Energy Association cannot be considered entirely neutral in this matter OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #11

Naturally, however their information here does, in fact, have a high degree of validity. kristopher Dec 2011 #13

Swarovski = Big Optics XemaSab Dec 2011 #12

I reckon they've been paid off by Mitsubishi... Dead_Parrot Dec 2011 #19

No wonder you are gaga over nuclear power. kristopher Dec 2011 #37

And people think the Germans have no sense of humour. nt Dead_Parrot Dec 2011 #41

Already being done? Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #3

Federal agency proposes voluntary guidelines for wind power developers to avoid bird deaths XemaSab Dec 2011 #4

OK, I'm surprised... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #5

Audubon's Position on Wind Power OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #6

Today... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #7

�The government estimates that a minimum of 440,000 birds are currently killed each year�� OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #8

ABCbirds can�t get their story straight OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #14

Putting 440,000 bird deaths into perspective OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #15

. XemaSab Dec 2011 #16

Well, that certainly sucked OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #17

Power line pylon killed Berkley the adopted vulture, together with all the hopes of the environmenta OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #18

My friends in Ohio XemaSab Dec 2011 #20

Well, the conclusion (in this case) was that transmission lines should be made safer OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #25

Altamont Pass, a nasty start... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #28

Faster turbines, slower turbines OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #36

Yes, tip speed my be faster, but... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #39

But more vultures are killed by cats. Dead_Parrot Dec 2011 #21

That's why you should keep your damn cat in the damn house XemaSab Dec 2011 #22

What, and pay for food? Dead_Parrot Dec 2011 #23

Do they like rare, endemic parrots? XemaSab Dec 2011 #24

Nah... Dead_Parrot Dec 2011 #26

I know how to stop a parrot from screeching OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #27

First, catch your parrot... Dead_Parrot Dec 2011 #30

Beautiful plumage� OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #35

Here�s a fascinating study OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #10

There's another "wind kills birds" piece floating around the web. Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #29

That's a little rich... Dead_Parrot Dec 2011 #31

Eh, power lines are a big contributor, too. joshcryer Dec 2011 #32

Yes, check out the studies I mentioned OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #34

I'm merely saying, it would be inaccurate to say "technology that requires X..." joshcryer Dec 2011 #42

So, the obvious answer is to bury the cables OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #43

Would burying cables actually be more expensive? Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #44

Estimates vary� OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #45

Yeah, but that's not happening and may not be necessary. joshcryer Dec 2011 #46

We wouldn�t want to save too many birds� (Right?) ;-) OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #47

Oh, I agree, absolutely. joshcryer Dec 2011 #48

Yes, it's Virginia OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #33

The NYT is turning into a POS when it comes to the environment... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #40

Mark Desholm is the leading authority on investigating avian interactions with wind technology kristopher Dec 2011 #38

Well meaning fools or AstroTurf? You decide. txlibdem Dec 2011 #49

Here's an LA Times article about this: XemaSab Dec 2011 #50

"an industry lobbying group" joshcryer Dec 2011 #51