Re: “” Dec. 31 news story.
Eagles and wind power can successfully coexist, despite the concerns raised in Bruce Finley’s Dec. 31 article.
Importantly, bigger, modern wind turbine blades impact fewer eagles than smaller ones. Most wind effects on eagles happen at older California wind farms from the 1980s. As modern turbines with bigger blades are replacing outdated equipment with smaller ones, impacts are falling by 80 percent.
Overall, wind farms cause less than three percent of human-related golden eagle deaths, and more than 90 percent of wind projects have zero impact. Of those that do, the vast majority impact a single eagle over 30 years.
Wind turbines almost never impact bald eagles, with only a handful of exceptions in the four-decade history of the U.S. wind industry.
The U.S. wind industry proactively works to minimize its limited impacts and conserve eagles, and will continue to do so.
Tom Vinson, Vice President, Federal Regulatory Affairs, American Wind Energy Association, Washington, D.C.
Submit a letter to the editor via or check out our for how to submit by e-mail or mail.
