Wind Power
A day after a story about new energy-generating giant windmills in Northern Philippines appeared in the news, an article on the unexpected downside of wind power appeared in Wired News. It mentions that hundreds of the five thousand windmills 30 miles east of where I live in Fremont will be shut down next month. Although the wind farm is situated in Altamont Pass where winds are strong, it lies on an “important bird-migration path,” killing about 1000 raptor birds a year. The 70s-built turbines here use older, inefficient designs and were installed “without any type of environmental impact study.” It’s interesting that two groups concerned with environmental issues - one for alternative sources of energy, the other for preservation of wildlife habitats - have clashed over this matter.
Tags: environment, Fremont, philippines, Windmill