Wind Energy Company Fined $8 Million for Killing 150 Eagles

[Kamaji]

Wind Energy Company Fined $8 Million for Killing 150 Eagles

By Eric Lendrum
April 7, 2022

On Tuesday, a wind energy company was found guilty in federal court of killing over 150 eagles with their wind turbines over the course of the last ten years.

The Daily Caller reports that ESI Energy, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, pleaded guilty in a federal court in Wyoming to violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. ESI had failed to apply for a special permit granted to some wind energy companies that provides them immunity from inevitable bird strike deaths caused by the massive propellers of the wind turbines.

After having been found to be responsible for the deaths of approximately 150 eagles in eight different states over the last decade, the company was fined over $8 million.

“We disagree with the government’s underlying enforcement activity,” said NextEra President Rebecca Kujawa following the ruling. “Building any structure, driving any vehicle, or flying any airplane carries with it a possibility that accidental eagle and other bird collisions may occur.”

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Source:  https://amgreatness.com/2022/04/07/wind-energy-company-fined-8-million-for-killing-150-eagles/

[Kamaji]

And that's just for the protected species.  How many non-protected species of birds have they been killing over that same period of time?

[Smokin Joe]

Well, now, about time the Windmill folks get held to the same standards an Oil company would.

[Cyber Liberty]

It's about time.  The windmills have pretty much wiped out what's left of the California Condors.

[Smokin Joe]

It's about time.  The windmills have pretty much wiped out what's left of the California Condors.

While it is good, at the same time remember it is because someone failed to fill out a form giving the company a waiver, not a shift in policy. Essentially, they are being fined for not having filled out the right paperwork, and the Eagles are secondary.

[Cyber Liberty]

While it is good, at the same time remember it is because someone failed to fill out a form giving the company a waiver, not a shift in policy. Essentially, they are being fined for not having filled out the right paperwork, and the Eagles are secondary.

You have a good point.  BTW, the Condors have been labeled "extinct in the wild" for some years now.  They only exist in zoos and preserves.

Then policy is ultimately what needs to be fixed, at the Statute level, and the Rats will never allow that.

[roamer_1]

While it is good, at the same time remember it is because someone failed to fill out a form giving the company a waiver, not a shift in policy. Essentially, they are being fined for not having filled out the right paperwork, and the Eagles are secondary.

And how preposterous is that?

[Smokin Joe]

And how preposterous is that?

You have to recall that the Green New Deal has bugger-all to do with the environment.
It is all about reallocation of wealth and control.

Windmills are part of the GND, and as a result there is an 'out' for those who want to set up windmill farms. These folks didn't do their homework, or were incompetent. Either way, they didn't fill out the right forms, and left themselves open to prosecution.

(Whether that waiver involves greasing palms or making campaign donations, I will not speculate).

In the whole equation, though, the birds come in dead last.

[Cyber Liberty]

In the whole equation, though, the birds come in dead last.

100% correct.  When was the last time you saw a "Save the Condor" movement?

[roamer_1]

You have to recall that the Green New Deal has bugger-all to do with the environment.
It is all about reallocation of wealth and control.

Windmills are part of the GND, and as a result there is an 'out' for those who want to set up windmill farms. These folks didn't do their homework, or were incompetent. Either way, they didn't fill out the right forms, and left themselves open to prosecution.

(Whether that waiver involves greasing palms or making campaign donations, I will not speculate).

In the whole equation, though, the birds come in dead last.

Whether or not... It is unconscionable that a government can take your wealth because of an 'i' not dotted or a 't' not crossed. I have been similarly hit, albeit on a far lesser scale, by a similar failure to possess one among a myriad of forms and permits. That does not suggest a realm of free people.

[Smokin Joe]

Whether or not... It is unconscionable that a government can take your wealth because of an 'i' not dotted or a 't' not crossed. I have been similarly hit, albeit on a far lesser scale, by a similar failure to possess one among a myriad of forms and permits. That does not suggest a realm of free people.

I agree. Unfortunately, the elected problems in our government are barely the frost on the tip of the iceberg.

[catfish1957]

I had to do some conservative extrapolation on this matter ...

69.000 turbines in the United States, at say 50 turbines per site = 1300 facilities

ESI owns 150 sites, and only 50 at least documented had eagle kills. So that adds up to 1-3 eagles per site in the enforcement period.

Based on some rough math that means possibly the actual number of eagles whacked by these monstrosities  be somewhere between 1000-4000 Eagles. 

Now, this doesn't even include the number of other raptors, flocking birds, or bats that have met this demise.  Green Energy my ass.   

[Cyber Liberty]

I had to do some conservative extrapolation on this matter ...

69.000 turbines in the United States, at say 50 turbines per site = 1300 facilities

ESI owns 150 sites, and only 50 at least documented had eagle kills. So that adds up to 1-3 eagles per site in the enforcement period.

Based on some rough math that means possibly the actual number of eagles whacked by these monstrosities  be somewhere between 1000-4000 Eagles. 

Now, this doesn't even include the number of other raptors, flocking birds, or bats that have met this demise.  Green Energy my ass.

The predators are the hardest hit because it's their core instinct to chase and capture moving targets in order to eat, which the motion of the turbine blades mimic.

[rebewranger]

If Trump had one windmill on any of his properties and it killed one crow, the greenies would be demanding $20 million from him.

[catfish1957]

If Trump had one windmill on any of his properties and it killed one crow, the greenies would be demanding $20 million from him.

I hope some of the GND toadies are on hand to explain when these become rusty graveyard monuments.  Uglifying our beautiful Western U.S. vistas.

[GtHawk]

100% correct.  When was the last time you saw a "Save the Condor" movement?

Actually there are a few, most notable here in California and in Peru. Regardless, I am sure if any California Condors succumbed to the giant Mr. Chop Chop their corpses would be quickly disposed of before the news became public.

[roamer_1]

[...] the giant Mr. Chop Chop

NEW! From RONCO...

 

[Kamaji]

NEW! From RONCO...