Pioneer Green Energy - What Wildlife?

Pioneer Green Energy seems determined to site industrial wind projects in ecologically sensitive areas with low wind resources. Four projects proposed in three States have one thing in common – rare, threatened or endangered and protected wildlife.   

US Wind Resource Map at 80 meters

Pennsylvania’s North EastTownship, on Lake Erie, is targeted for 50-75 giant wind turbines.   Erie County has the highest number of rare, threatened, and endangered species of any county in Pennsylvania. Many are associated with unique habitats that can be found at Presque Isle and French Creek and are found nowhere else in the state. Also located on the Atlantic migratory bird flyway, this wind project puts all birds, including recently sighted snowy owls, at risk. The high wind resource area in southwestern Minnesota, called Buffalo Ridge, showed a 47% loss of raptors immediately and continuing ten years after turbines started operating. 

In Maryland, Pioneer Green’s Great Bay Wind Center is seeking the nation’s first 30-year bald eagle “take” permit.  The federal permit assures Wall Street investors that they won’t be prosecuted for killing America’s symbol of freedom. While claiming three years of eagle study, no data has been released for public scrutiny. Even so, preliminary federal estimates are that this project could slaughter 20 bald eagles per year directly across the Chesapeake Bay from our nation’s Capitol.  In a telephone conversation last month, Pioneer Green Vice President Adam Cohen revealed that Somerset County was targeted for its access to transmission.  The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuarine system in the contiguous United States, and is at the eastern end of the Atlantic migratory flyway.

In Alabama, Pioneer Green’s Shinbone and Noccalula projects are both situated on scenic ridges that are home to the federally endangered Indiana Bat and Gray Bat.  Bats are attracted to turbines and die both from strikes and barotrauma – blood vessels in their lungs explode from flying too close to the turbines.  Pioneer Green publically promised last fall to release the wildlife data they claim to have gathered for these two projects, but has not been forthcoming.  

Despite scant evidence, the wind industry claims that the super-sized turbines being proposed by Pioneer Green, will work in these low wind areas. What they fail to mention is the increased size of the rotor swept area – the turbine kill-zone for birds. Slaughtering birds and bats in critical habitats and migratory flyways speaks volumes about the character of Pioneer Green.   

The Coalition for Sensible Siting thanks the citizens of Alabama, Maryland and Pennsylvania for alerting us to Pioneer Green's activities. We notice with irony that Pioneer Green Energy's first listed criteria for their wind projects is "Identify smart sites for new projects." 

 

 

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Bald Eagle Annual Deaths As High As 14

United States Fish and Wildlife Service predicts that between 8 and 14 American bald eagles could be killed annually if New Era Wind Farm is built as currently designed. The outcome of USFWS's eagle mortality models are dramatically higher than one eagle every-other-year as predicted by New Era's consultant Westwood Professional Services. 
 
In November 2012, New Era was the first wind facility in the nation to apply to the USFWS for an "Incidental Take Permit" to be allowed to kill bald eagles with their wind turbines without the danger of federal prosecution. Bald eagles are protected under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Without an ITP, killing an eagle is against federal law. The ITP process for New Era is not yet completed.

The eagle mortality rates were one part of extensive analysis and comments that USFWS provided in response to New Era's updated Avian and Bat Protection Plan (ABPP) required by the State of Minnesota. Overall, the USFWS found a number of problems with the ABPP methodology and conclusions. The 2010 avian study reported zero nests and no eagles flying in the wind project area; USFWS estimates the area bald eagle population at well over 400. Problems identified by USFWS included a warning about killing golden eagles, which also fly through the area. The Service made it clear that there is no possibility of obtaining an ITP for golden eagles in this area of the country, so that killing one would be a federally prosecutable offense.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources provided comments on the same ABPP. The DNR raised concerns about Northern Harriers, Henslow Sparrow, bats and other wildlife potentially impacted by the project and the lack of data provided by New Era. Northern Harriers are listed as a bird of national concern by the USFWS and a Species of Greatest Conservation Need by DNR.

Goodhue County is located within the broad corridor of the Mississippi River Flyway. This is the largest migration route in North America. Millions of birds pass through and stop over this area on their annual spring and fall travels. The New Era ABPP shows a failure to perform avian migration field studies despite the project's advanced stage in the State permitting process.  Bats are also high on the list of concerns expressed by USFWS and the MN DNR. Bats are a keystone species known to die in large numbers at wind facilities

Few wildlife impact studies have been done before, or after, the construction of industrial wind facilities in the United States. However, the studies that have been done suggest high mortality of birds and bats. Raptors, such a eagles, are known to be at high risk of being struck and killed by wind turbine blades. A study in SW Minnesota showed a 47% reduction in raptor numbers after construction of wind turbines. It is not clear how many died, and how many abandoned the area as no-longer-suitable habitat. Bats die both from blade strikes and barotrauma.

New Era Wind Farm is a 78 MW industrial facility proposed for central Goodhue County in southeastern Minnesota. The project became nationally infamous under its previous owner, Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens. During Pickens' ownership the project was called AWA Goodhue and was wholely owned by his Dallas based Mesa Power. The lack of local public support and the high number of educated and concerned citizens has made this the most controversial wind project in Minnesota history. Peter Mastic, formerly the developer, purchased the wind project from Pickens last fall and changed the name to "New Era Wind Farm."

The previous ABPP for this project was rejected by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission at a hearing on February 23, 2012. It is unclear when the MPUC may hold a hearing on the updated ABPP. Due to Minnesota State laws promoting industrial wind, this project is not required to produce an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as required of other industries.

The Coalition for Sensible Siting is proud of the extensive and important feedback citizens provided on the ABPP. The USFWS and the MN DNR provided excellent and thorough review and comment on the ABPP. Many concerns raised by citizens (below) where confirmed by USFWS and MN DNR.

The updated New Era Wind Farm Avian and Bat Protection Plan (4 parts):

ABPP
Appendices A-P
Exhibits 1-9
Exhibits 10-19

Citizen Comments on the ABPP:

No migration studies in the Mississippi Flyway - Mary Jo O'Rielly
Bald Eagle nest missing from ABPP - Doug Sommers
Failure to study owls - Kelly Norman
Failure to study raptors - Kristi Rosenquist
Eagles, Owls and site control - Rick Conrad
Turbines closer than 2 miles from Bald Eagle nests - Ann Buck
Northern Harriers at risk - Bill O'Reilly
Telling residents how to farm and hunt is nonsense - Joe Hernke
Turbines near conservation lands - Jon Stussy
New Era lacks site control - Rochelle Nygaard
New nest and important eagle use area - Connie Ludwig
Misleading data and failure to perform required surveys - Barb Stussy
Misrepresenting Important Eagle Use Areas - Bob Rosenquist
Waterfowl migration missing - Scott Logan
Turbines located on forest edges - Marilyn Jonas
Raptor nests and territories missing from maps - Scott Logan
Misrepresents eagles and fails to study other species - Mary Hartman
Assessment of turbine distance misleading - Kristi Rosenquist
Obligating local government and citizens without due process - Paul Reese
Request the MPUC perform a site visit - Marie McNamara
60 minute point counts lasted only 45 minutes - Scott Logan
Northern Harrier and other hawk data missing - Erin Logan
Failure to perform required field surveys - Sue Hinrichs
Failure to avoid CRP and other conservation lands - Tom Gale
Performing bat surveys with broken towers - Mary Hartman
Eagle point counts from poor vantage point - Scott Husbyn
Bat mortality at 7800 annually? - Mary Hartman

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T. Boone Pickens Confirms He Lost His A** in Wind

"I've lost my a** in the [wind] business", said T. Boone Pickens recently on MSNBC. Rural residents of Goodhue County Minnesota are proud to have handed Mr. Pickens his a** on a platter...with a mint.

Rural resident Shelley Nygaard sent her message to T. Boone through Mark Ward, the head of his industrial wind division. Ms. Nygaard is one of many citizens who have been fighting the proposed AWA Goodhue project in Goodhue County Minnesota which Mr. Pickens's Mesa Power purchased in December 2009.

"T. Boone can walk away but these people [living here] can't. We are all still here trying to repair the damage done by a badly planned wind project. ...T. Boone may have lost his ___ on wind. He also lost the respect of many citizens."

Goodhue County residents are familiar with Mark Ward through his frequent visits to lobby County Commissioners, and to testify at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Despite over a half-million dollars spent lobbying Minnesota officials in the last two years, T. Boone Pickens's AWA Goodhue project is the most controversial project ever proposed in Minnesota and one of the most controversial in the nation.

In February 2012, T. Boone applied for the first-in-the-nation "Incidental Take Permit" to be allowed to kill bald eagles. US Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing the application information. Among other things, the Service will need to determine whether the project is "moderate" or "high" risk to eagles.

The project is lacking a number of other necessities including: Township road agreements, property for a sub-station, easements for transmission, pipeline setback agreements, telecommunications agreement, financing, and approval of an "Avian and Bat Protection Plan".

AWA's most recent filing of fall and winter bald and golden eagles survey data found no "promiscuous ice-fishing". Of course, they found no new nests and no important eagle use areas either. The Service recently confirmed several "new" eagle nests in the same area. Who knows for certain what the avian and human residents of the area are up to?

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US Fish and Wildlife Service Speaks

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) weighed in on the AWA Goodhue industrial wind project's "Avian and Bat Protection Plan" (ABPP).  Previously dubbed "the New Pickens Plan" by this blog, USFWS and DNR zeroed in an its many shortfalls. Both agencys' comments were posted to the MN Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) website two days ago.  These official agencies validated factual reports from concerned citizens and voiced by the Coalition for Sensible Siting.

The new Pickens Plan was already exposed for its Rapid Response Roadkill Removal and Promiscuous Ice Fishing.

Concerned citizens have posted their own responses to the Avian and Bat Protection Deception Plan and more will be posted at the MPUC electronic dockets soon.  The MPUC announced yesterday that they will decide whether or not to approve AWA Goodhue's Avian and Bat Protection Plan at their February 2, 2011 meeting in St. Paul.  A "yes" decision would put AWA Goodhue one step closer to constructing 50 industrial wind turbines directly in vital Bald Eagle nesting, migrating, roosting and feeding areas of Goodhue County Minnesota.

The Eagle Siting blog says "no".  It is not a plan to protect; it is a plan to move forward no-matter-what the facts are.  The MPUC should say "no" to this ABPP.  Citizens should not allow use of their tax and electrical rate money as a weapon to kill our nation's symbol of freedom.

Go to the Coalition for Sensible Siting to find out how you can help.

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Permit to Kill Bald Eagles?

While citizens were sleeping, mercenary biologists working for faux environmentalists like T. Boone Pickens (Pickens Plan) have crafted environmental assessments of proposed wind turbine sites. The goal: maximize profits by siting as many turbines as possible by writing deceptive environmental assessments to hide the damage turbines must do to get the job done.   The Coalition for Sensible Siting found this sprint for federal 1603 cash has gutted US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and State protections. Lobbyists waving the “Global Warming” banner swarmed Capitol Hill and begged permission to destroy eagles, bats, passerines, and the lives of countless citizens under the guise of “saving the planet”.   The result?  Debilitating health impacts on thousands of citizens, decimation of golden eagle populations across the country, grave concerns about extinction of bats, and hundreds of thousands of passerines killed annually... and we’re not even to the halfway mark for proposed wind energy installation. 

The AWA Goodhue Avian and Bat Protection Plan prepared for AWA Goodhue of Dallas, TX was recently posted to the Minnesota Public Utility Commission (MPUC) public document docket.  It’s not difficult to see that it is a sham Plan.  Lay it side by side and compare it to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) documentation on how to obtain an Incidental Take Permit for bald and golden eagles.  

(CAUTION: the new Pickens Plan contradicts itself and contradicts the previous avian survey. Reading the Plan is likely to cause you to feel dizzy and confused by the “new” information provided by Pickens’ consultant Westwood.   Please remain seated for the duration of the comparison to avoid injury from dizziness and nausea.) 

AWA Goodhue's lead up to the 'Avian and Bat Protection Plan':

1. Fail to perform studies recommended by USFWS
2. State there are no bald eagles in the "footprint" of the proposed wind project
3. Get proved wrong by local citizens
4. Insist bald eagles are only present due to citizens"baiting" eagles using dead things
5. Try (unsuccessfully) to get farmers in trouble with the MN Board of Animal Health
6. Harass citizens and eagles using a low flying helicoptor

After reading the USFWS material and the AWA Goodhue proposal it quickly becomes evident that the mitigation strategies proposed by Pickens, under the direction of the Certified Wildlife Biologists with Westwood [un?]Professional Services calls for: starving the eagles out of the project footprint by removing habitat that supports their prey, removing all habitat eagles rely upon for roosting, perching and sheltering during harsh Minnesota winters so eagles will leave, harassing the birds with helicopters for behavior modification, and disrupting breeding and nesting habitats by using construction equipment within 1/2 mile of the nest sites.   None of the eagles that have been calling this area home for the past decades will survive this onslaught - which is apparently Pickens’ desired outcome.

Concerned citizens and USFWS officials have had numerous discussions about the USFWS recommendations for siting industrial wind turbines near active bald eagle nests with AWA Goodhue. This developer has routinely insisted that there is no siting recommendation related to active bald eagle nests and has insisted that the 2 mile distance explained by citizens is fantasy.   An email exchange with the USFWS was recently posted to the MPUC docket making it very clear that the Service recommends a two mile setback from active nests.

The Coalition for Sensible Siting is curious to see what excuse the developer will come up with now that they can no longer say, “We didn’t know....”  If AWA Goodhue is not successful in driving the birds from the project area, there seems no doubt Pickens’ wind farm will kill and maim bald eagles as the birds try to forage and hunt in fragmented habitat divided by 7 ton blades with tips spinning between 140 and 200 miles per hour.  

The birds that travel the Mississippi Migratory Flyway depend upon maintenance of these critical habitats to support them as they move from the Arctic Circle to as far away as Patagonia.  The cumulative effects of allowing this level of predation upon the land will be severe as other wind energy developers follow the precedent set by Minnesota’s ill-advised Public Utilities Commission ensuring birds and bats transecting the US are killed by the hundreds of thousands. 

The MPUC determined that T. Boone Pickens’ AWA Goodhue wind project is “Not Needed” to meet Minnesota’s renewable energy mandate.  And yet, the developer’s proposed "mitigation strategies" would lead one to believe that placing 400 foot wind turbines in Goodhue County Minnesota is critical infrastructure and so, while unfortunate, it is necessary to collapse one of the healthiest ecosystems in SE Minnesota. Clearly, such a claim is fantasy to dazzle the MPUC into allowing turbine construction to move forward.

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Xcel meets with citizens on AWA Goodhue project

T. Boone Pickens’ AWA Goodhue wind project negotiated a 20 year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Xcel, Minnesota’s largest electrical utility. After relentless pleas by local citizens, Xcel has agreed to send Jim Alders and Rick Evans to meet with citizens about what is now considered one of the most controversial wind energy projects in the nation. Representatives of AWA Goodhue have demonstrated an ongoing pattern of misrepresentation, distortion and outright lies on almost all aspects of the project. Citizens are eager to hear from Xcel what their plans are for a wind project that apparently intends to be in violation of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

The project was also granted Community Based Energy Development (C-BED) status by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) in April 2010. Since the project is owned 100% by Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens and 0% by Minnesotans, AWA Goodhue also appears to fail C-BED law requirements. The MPUC granted the PPA with Xcel with the highest electrical rate for any wind project ever approved in Minnesota. AWA Goodhue’s Cole Robertson testified at the March 2011 contested case hearing in front of ALJ Kathleen Sheehy, that the PPA requires production by December 31, 2011.

Robertson testified that failure to meet the deadline could subject AWA Goodhue to liquidated damages and that Xcel could opt out of their PPA. Since Pickens has not yet broken ground, there is no chance of electrical production in three days. Federal and Minnesota wind energy laws were formulated by faux environmental lobbyists and crony capitalists, including T. Boone Pickens. Not invited nor represented were citizens who pay the taxes and electrical bills and bear the burden of the resulting turbines and electrical transmission lines. We’ll report on ‘Xcel meets the citizens of Goodhue County’ tomorrow on this blog.

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