Conservation groups seek changes at wind farm

Birds and bat mortality at issue

 A coalition of eight conservation organizations is seeking further limits on the operation of a western Maryland wind farm that it calls the deadliest in the United States.

The 28-turbine Criterion Wind Project, located near Oakland, Md., went into operation in December of 2010 and is owned by Exelon Power, a unit of Exelon Corp. (NYSE: EXE).

The challenge is contained in comments filed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is considering the wind farm operator’s request for an incidental take permit for endangered Indiana bats.

During its first full year of operation (2011), Criterion conducted daily monitoring for bat and bird mortality between April 5 and November 15. Although no Indiana bat deaths were confirmed, Criterion estimates that the project killed approximately 1,093 other bats (39 bats per turbine) and 448 birds (16 birds per turbine), the groups say. This is the highest mortality rate per turbine for any wind facility in the U.S.

The Endangered Species Act makes it illegal to “take,” meaning harm or kill, federally threatened or endangered wildlife. Some otherwise legal activities, such as wind turbine operation, have the risk of incidentally taking protected species. These activities can continue, as long as the project owner “undertakes reasonable and practical measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate” deaths of listed species.

Continued:  http://www.renewablesbiz.com/article/12/10/conservation-groups-seek-changes-wind-farm