RLC1111, the golden Eagle is not our national bird. The Bald Eagle is.

No, the national bird is the bald eagle. Different species.

No it's not. Ours is the bald eagle.

Bald Eagles are our national bird not the Golden Eagle.

Not trying to be a smarta55 but our national avian symbol is the Bald Eagle, not the Golden Eagle. I hate to see these beautiful birds killed too but please try to get the details correct.

Thanks!

What nation do you live in RLC? And anyway, JS is correct, if you read carefully it spells it out quite clearly. And the ability to kill 3 eagles per 5 years isn't much of a "loophole" if you ask me, especially when the company has to then spend money on insuring the local population is maintained or increased....

can we get a "take" permit and toss some politicians into those turbines instead , seems more reasonable and less of a waste then taking eagles !

I never got a chance to vote on this.....Another way the government just shoves things down our throats whether the voters want it or not......Give big business their way......I vote NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think he now gets the point that it's actually the Bald Eagle and not the Golden Eagle that's our national bird. Lol.

Ricky - JS is right, sorry but please read it again.

RLC - see about every post after yours...come on, I thought that was common knowledge.

Fred - while I have reservations about wind (see brief comment below) at least they are trying to avoid the additional use of oil and coal. And for the remark about screw the eagles, you are the one that needs to grow up and understand how nature and the eco system works. Just because you don't directly benefit from a specific animal is no reason to advocate writing them off. Eagles are an important part of the living world and help maintain a specific balance; they eat rodents like mice. Not to mention they are amazing to look at. I'm not a tree hugger by any means and I certainly don't expect us to just stop using oil and coal at the snap of someones fingers but when it comes to being responsible with the resources we have and our interactions with the environment around us, well, we can do much better and it is not and does not have to be as painful or inconveniencing as some would like you to think.

But, they didn't say that they would be fined, if a lot of eagles were killed by turbine blades, either. That is what will happen. There are dead birds under every wind turbine.

Those that noted that the Bald Eagle is our national symbol are correct. If Benjamin Franklin had gotten his wish, it would have been the Wild Turkey.

I thought the turkey was our national bird. Didn't Obama just pardon one this fall ;-)

This is infuriating!!!! why don't they re-locate the birds!!!! last time i checked the golden eagle was an endangered spiecies these feds have lost their minds killing these harmless birds!!!!!!!!!!

An eagle is an eagle period whether bald or golden.

Every time these permits are given it just sets up a slippery slope to kill something else and impact our environment even further.

What if these wind farms are set up elsewhere , where they may impact our foodstock, are they going to give them the right to simply kill our foodstock too to give a couple more homes electricity?

Oh well I suppose then we can have the electricity to see the empty plate on the dining room table and the empty but running fridge. LOL

In one state they were even trying to allow to clear cut mountain tops so that these wind farms could be set up.... perhaps they have done it already anyway. Then we wonder why we are having such extremes in our weather. Hope we are not going to criticize the people who are cutting down the trees in the Amazon rain forest to build homes, export exotic woods and produce farmable land.

Instead of pushing things like solar panels being installed on these homes they push windfarms.... because then the power companies can have complete control of the profits for themselves instead of sharing with their customers.. amazingly stupid...but the norm and par for the corporationpeople these days..

Anyhoo....Wonder who got what for that...... hmmmm LOL

I am totaly against this slaughtering of those magnificent birds and their families, if that is what they intend to do. I like wind farms but the birds come FIRST in my book. I will pray on this and lift it up to my Lord Jesus to do his will and perform one of His miricals on these birds. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen! These people are not in their right mind.

Whoa! The big picture here is BIG BUCKS! The investors get subsidies (tax dollars) and use them to get the financing, then HUGE long term tax breaks!

Then they'll put in hundreds of 500 foot giant inefficient turbines anywhere they want...your back yard for example.

That's 50 stories the top 30 stories of which are rotating constantly.

Coming to the hills near you!

And the fix is in.

dragonfly169, your an idiot, how do you think those indians got the eagle feathers they wore, it wasnt by not killing eagles. stupid

Lets go Have dinner at KFE...

I totally agree with BZe1. The corporations will benefit from the wind farms and will not share the energy or profits with citizens. However, citizens could be encouraged to install solar panels and small, individual-sized windmills that would produce energy for their own property. I do believe the birds should be relocated. The golden eagle has begun living in southern Indiana as of a few years ago, and I saw one flying over my neighborhood in northern Indiana on July 31, 2011. Perhaps the wind farms out west have encouraged the birds to make the Midwest their new habitat.

I'm frankly impressed. The company did the right thing instead of building then worrying about the eagles. They are not going to try to kill them but realize that, by building the turbines they might inadvertently kill some. And, if you read correctly, the environmentalist are cautiously okay with this situation.

smcho - totally ignorant post. They are building a specific number of the turbines in very specific areas. The turbines provide significant energy and are much less destructive than drilling for oil!

BZ - you make good points. Specifically I would like to point out what you said about solar. Using this money to put solar on homes or businesses that are already taking up space and have open roofs would be much better. Besides the power that solar makes is produced when it is actually needed. When it comes to alternative energy, solar shines and wind blows...haha really though there is more to it than just producing the power, there has to be a need in place and until there are better storage systems wind is lacking. Though I admit from and engineering standpoint the wind towers are impressive.

BZ - you make good points. Specifically I would like to point out what you said about solar. Using this money to put solar on homes or businesses that are already taking up space and have open roofs would be much better. Besides the power that solar makes is produced when it is actually needed. When it comes to alternative energy, solar shines and wind blows...haha really though there is more to it than just producing the power, there has to be a need in place and until there are better storage systems wind is lacking. Though I admit from and engineering standpoint the wind towers are impressive.

You know what they say about "Golden Eagles"...........taste like chicken!

This is so terribly wrong. The government will screw up anything it touches, this issue brings to the forefront how inept our ideas can be.

Have we looked into using trained Falconer's to set traps and catch the birds for re-location? We are permitted through the US Fish and Game and have the tools to make a difference without killing any Birds of Prey.

I never got a chance to vote on this.....Another way the government just shoves things down our throats whether the voters want it or not

Um, huh? You expect governments to put every bureaucratic decision to a vote? Should everyone vote on every building permit ever issued? Every license applied for? Whether to get the red or black stapler for that little gov't office whose stapler just broke? This is a permit, which they weren't even required to ask for in the first place. What say we save a few quadrillion dollars and a few hundred years, and let gov't officials do their assigned jobs, eh? It's hard enough to get people to vote for important things, let alone the piddly daily goings-on of gov't life.

What studies have been done for other species? Are there bats in the area? They consume a large amount of insects saving us from pesticides. Everyone wants "free" or non-oil dependent energy sources without looking at the consequences.

No Rick-854092 your Nations President is a Turkey. Not your nations bird.

People do not seem to get what this is about. It is a carefully crafted compromise.

Wind turbines will generally kill a few birds, mostly soaring birds such as buzzards, hawks, and eagles. They have figured that it would be about three golden eagles a year lost. What they're saying is that in return for tangible support of conservation groups (which saves the taxpayer money) the first three killed will have no more penalty. If more than three are killed, the wind turbine folks must show that they are contributing financially to an additional breeding program in such a way that there is no further net loss of birds in the area.

This seems to be quite a reasonable solution. It takes a problem that everyone recognizes and lays out a way to deal with it that allows both the golden eagles to be protected and the wind turbines to be built.

The knee-jerk reactions of some folks seem to show a considerable lack of critical thinking skills. It seems to me that this is exactly how we want government to work --- to try to protect the interests of everyone concerned.

Being native american, we believe that we are related to all...whether it be a two-legged, four-legged or winged. I am crying out loud about this! These "bird people" are sacred to us and should be treated as such. You allow this to happen and the ramifications will be serious. I believe in the balance of life, but to take anothers life out of greed..I believe there is a better way. I am all for wind power over more destructive means of energy, but at what cost? This is a slippery slope that will allow other doors to open to taking lives.

Heck with it. Save the eagles, kill the polar bears. Eagles won't prey on humans if they overpopulate. Let's get the oil in Alaska!

Dragonfly's idea isn't so bad either. We could ask for volunteers who want to save both the eagles and the polar bears. From the posts here we might get a few that would volunteer. I'm not sure that the Native Americans/Indians were killing humans so much as living off of the land. Not too many folks still doing that; but, if they did the environmentalists would be protesting their hunting and fishing.

What we really need is a good plague....:)

We did not nor do we kill eagles!!! The feathers that were worn proudly were from eagles that had died or feathers from their nests or dropped or were shot by whites who like the pretty feathers or to mount a great bird to say I killed that,wow. The great eagles, bald or golden are the symbols of a proud race who listened to the warnings and messages that the "Spirit" sent to us and always have we heard their cries and the cries of the earth. I ask the "Creator" not to judge those who's days grow shorter with every scar they place on Mother Earth, but to guide the spirits of our sisters and brothers who again will fall because man has...nor will he ever learn that a building, or a structure that reaches for the sky will save them...when their Mother...dies

Can't they fence off the area, around it and on top, with regular backyard metal fencing that would allow the wind to pass through but not large birds? It would be like the safety guard placed over the blades of every electric fan.

Yet another event brought to you by our current administration. This was all okayed before the midterm elections.

I am not taking any sides I am just trying to collect the facts. What damage to the wind turbine occures when and eagle or bird of any kind kind gets hit with a blade. I know what happens to the bird. There has to be some reason West Butte feels they need to apply for a permit. Thanks

@Steve, Native Americans would collect the feathers from eagle nests. Quit being one of those shallow-minded white guys who thinks he's an expert on other races and cultures when in fact he doesn't know jack about them.

Ummm... no matter what kind of energy we try to obtain from the land, air, or sea.. there will always be casualties to the nature around it. If you don't like it... go live in log cabins with no utilities what so ever.

An Eagle is a beautiful bird that has been here longer than any of us. Whether Bald or Golden. It is not right to kill any eagle. What has the Federal government lost there f--king mind, or has this company given them enough money to buy them. Give me break! Don't need those stupid turbine's. Our Federal government is discombobulated, and to realize what they are saying.

The article is horribly misleading. The wind farm will not intentionally kill ANY eagles. They are seeking to offset any unintentional deaths through conservation activities. By the way, modern wind turbines don't "slice and dice" like older ones. They've been redesigned specifically to prevent bird deaths and are endorsed by the Audubon society. Birds are more likely to be killed by running into a window than a turbine. Coal fired plants actually kill more birds, not to mention damage to the environment and human death.

Helicohunter, Bravo to you. Finally some one who read the article and took the time to understand what was being said and commented as such Thank you

Helicohunter, you actually read the entire article and applied common sense. Both rare on newsvine. Folks a lot of eagles get killed by power transmission lines. This wind farm will not do much more.

how about we put west buttes execs up for take

So...it's not our National bird...whoopie. And ummm, lets see G-680038, how about if it were you who were the casualty? Bet you'd think differently then. I mean suppose you were renting out in the country and the landlord decides "hey, get lost buddy" I'm building a sanctuary. Well, guess you gotta move ...but where? You have 5 kids,2 dogs, and live on a limited income so places for you and your family are hard to come by. Presto chango...your a casualty. Don't be so blase with your comments about if we don't like it go live someplace else. Anyone with an ounce of humanity wouldn't like it even if the outcome benefits humanity at the expense of wildlife...again. Perhaps a capture and release could be a possible solution for all living beings then when any new birds arrive they will take into consideration those big white things with red lights flashing that make a sound. Or perhaps the wind turbine blades could be painted/dyed. But why death?

What the *&^(^%*&^ The same bunch of Washington losers that stop energy independence because it might bother some little toad, now want to KILL EAGLES for wind farms. When will this loonacy end. Where are all those screaming environmentalists now?

Washington in the last three years has turned logic on its head over and over and over. November can't come soon enough. Throw them all out.

Come on people;

They aren't issuing hunting licenses for Golden eagles. It just exempts them from accidental and/or incidental kills of a single protected species. However they must pay, in effect, for each bird killed by contributing to eagle conservation programs to maintain or increase their numbers. A few eagles may be hit by the blades of the turbines. But, eagles are killed in car strikes, other accidents, and shot every year. Without any sort of compensation of any kind. Lighten up, we aren't taking the homes, this only covers kills incidental to the operation of wind turbines. I thought you wanted "green" energy? You can't have it both ways. The are trade offs in all things in life. This seems a good alternative to just them getting killed and an "Oh well".

As a Native American, I understand the circle of life. I have no problem with this as long as this company lives up to the expectations. And Native Americans don't and never have killed eagles to get feathers. We go out on soul search journeys and "find" shed feathers. All birds molt, to replenish and replace feathers worn out from flight and maintain their body temp, a key purpose for feathers in good condition. You may wander the forest and valley's for days, weeks or months to find a single feather, a great gift to us. We take from nature only what we need for food, clothing, moccasins, and use all of what we take. Eagles are sacred and have never been on the menu. So you simply show your ignorance.

don't kill if your not going to eat it

It is obvious we are a dumb nation, half of you people either can't read or just read the headline and assume. Sad thing is 69 people thumbed up your comment. The other thing I got to say to you kill humans tree huggers, WHY DON't YOU volunteer, after all it will be for the earth and keep the rest of us greener. How about getting off the internet wasting precious electricity? Yep just as I though no takers, just whiners who wants everyone else to change their habits so they can keep theirs, bunch of hypocrites.

Why did comment 1.1 get collapsed?

What did JS in SD say that was so bad?

Animal rights fanatics make me sick.

@Max-4048714

Can't they fence off the area, around it and on top, with regular backyard metal fencing that would allow the wind to pass through but not large birds? It would be like the safety guard placed over the blades of every electric fan.

Clearly you have never seen a wind turbine. The blades are a semi trailer and a half long and some of the towers are as tall as a 20 story building.

Wow! This shows the knee-jerk mentality of most posters here.

We have a company trying to do the right thing and now we have to listen to all this crying. No one is going to intentionally kill an eagle - the company is being pro-active by recognizing that birds that MAY be inadvertantly killed during the production of responsible, renewable green energy.

Try reading the article in its entirety. Even conservation groups applaud the company's efforts.

What a fuggin bunch of nutballs.

Kudos to Helicohunter, Tiki, and Devil's Son. You folks get it.

I am beginning to wonder about the ability of people to read. This is a case where a wind farm is being built because we are demanding green energy (and rightfully so), but when a company takes the legal actions to ensure that it is operating within the confines of the law people go out and call them bird killers, trying to get the right to shoot birds, ect.

Well you can not have it both ways, if you want more green energy then there will be some nitch in nature that will be effected. It's the universal truth of cause and effect. If you want cheaper oil, then we need to drill where the conservationist will not let us, but instead they cry foul but also cry foul at the prices of fuel. We need a reality check and figure out what it is that we are going to do.

What I think is best is to invest in the short term into more drilling to take our dependence away from middle east oil, and also make it a national mandate to equally invest into alternate energy sources. But like it or not either way we go about this something is going to always be effected. So get with it or go join the Amish and see how long you last without your cable, I-Phones, Internet, and microwave ovens.

Also, it is very childish of some of you to collapse peoples post's just because you do not agree with them. I do agree a racist, or a personal attack should be shut down, but if you want to get heard then give others the same respect you seem to think you deserve.

It is appalling to know that a company can not find a way to make it safer for such a majestic bird of prey.Yet is even more so that our government cannot find a way to keep these birds safe from the wind turbines.The technology that is available is unlimited!!!!!Wind turbines are be coming more and more abundant and are needed in a bad way----protect our birds of prey!!!

I applaud the wind farm company for the insight to apply for such a permit. Although the logical solution to their possilble problem with the Eagles would be to move the birds, nests, eggs, etc. to a new location so they wouldn't have any dead Eagles from flying into the turbine blades.

"Why did comment 1.1 get collapsed?

What did JS in SD say that was so bad?"

The collapsers are an amazing show of mob ignorance and one of the reasons I don't put much effort into a comment - in fact the policy intended to promote reasonable discussion actually inhibits it.

Besides the power that solar makes is produced when it is actually needed

Solar panels work only in daylight. There are two peak power sections each day 9AM-1Pm and 6Pm to 10 PM(higher than the am). The You have to store the energy in batteries to have it at night for the Peak power of the day which is between 6 PM and 10 PM each evening, when the solar cells are experiencing less sunlight. Storing power is not very efficient.

I weighed the decision on wind or solar and the main reason I am now using solar is the Bird and Bat factor. The small wind turbines I have seen turn at a very high speed which you know is going to kill anything it touches, so wind is out for me.

Solar is the way to go!!!!!

Last week end I installed 12 new 260 watt American made 1Soltech Solar panels on my garage roof and it was really cool to see my electric meter spinning backwards for the first time ever??? It didn't last long before my wife turned on the electric dryer but I figure these 12 will cut about 22% off my electric bill that keeps going up every year.. I can't wait till I can afford the other's I want to install but I will just have to wait for now...

Wind turbines are be coming more and more abundant and are needed in a bad way

Wind turbines are a joke. Little more than a con used by energy companies to rake in government subsidies. People bitch about oil and NG subsidies but on a per kilowatt hour basis we spend 100 times as much on wind. Chump change when compared to what we spend on solar subsidies but that's another story.

Green energy has its consequences. It is almost funny how those who are fighting for it still can't stop whining.

Everett W Springer

"I weighed the decision on wind or solar and the main reason I am now using solar is the Bird and Bat factor. The small wind turbines I have seen turn at a very high speed which you know is going to kill anything it touches, so wind is out for me.

Solar is the way to go!!!!!"

Of course neither is cost effective but you won't mind getting the bill sent to you. Oh that's right, you want someone else to pay for it.

but I figure these 12 will cut about 22% off my electric bill that keeps going up every year..

In other words, by the time they're obsolete they will have almost paid for the hardware used to install them. I'm not knocking you for doing the solar thing but there is no way that saving money can be an incentive. Even in some states where the government pitches in big bucks you'd be lucky to break even after a dozen years or so.

Backcountry, the greenies don't care about the cost as long as others pay for it. They also don't care where energy comes from so long as it isn't anywhere near them. They also don't care about jobs, housing, or welfare, unless it is their own. Bottom line, they care only about themselves while blaming everyone else who provides them what they want (not necessarily what they need).

You know, about thirty years ago, I heard Walter Cronkite make the quote, "The dumbing down of American". I really wasn't sure what he meant. But, after watching how cashiers can't make change without a computer,calculator, the general lack of what should be common knowledge and reading the posts here about the destruction of "all" the eagles and the rest of the absolute nonsense, It is now abundantly clear. I confess myself disappointed.

Kill endangered spicies for a flawed supply of energy !!! For a Global warming that has been proven false !!! Solar panels will create more power than any wind mill made. Gulf Coast University here in Fl, Creates almost all their power from their own solar farm. For all that say A Bald Eagle is our national bird, An Eagle is an Eagle they both due the same to the eco-system. 1 Our symbol of Nationallity the other a cousin. Both endangered which is extinct 1st !!! If the big corparations get 1 step in this direction God help us it what's next

Okay, everybody, here's a simple solution. Go look at a fan in your home. Go ahead, I'll wait.

(Whereupon a pause of 15 minutes elapsed to denote the passage of a quarter hour.)

Now, what do you see surrounding the fan blade? Most likely, there's a cagelike structure to prevent Little Timmy or Sparkles the cat from engaging the fan blades with their fingers or paws (or perhaps both, in Little Timmy's case, poor little sod).

Too costly? Well, instead of one eagle at a time, imagine a flock of geese, crows, starlings, etc., simultaneously hitting the blades, causing enough damage to unbalance them and destroying the entire structure, blades, turbine, the whole works.

Oh, and as more elegant designs evolve featuring less of the "propeller-type" design and a more efficient, slimmer profile for the "blade" structure, the birdproof structure surrounding them will be equally reduced in dimension.

Hence, a birdproof surround is a win-win solution, protecting the turbine and the birds.

Thus endeth the lesson

OK let's all go back and read the article again....a draft environmental assessment statement has been released in response to the first application for a take permit.

No one is out shooting eagles or even building wind farms at this point in time....(and to the dill who claimed that Obama approved this prior to the last congressional election, he was also on the grassy knoll, was "deep-throat" and informed on Joan of Arc).

I am not convinced that wind power is a good value exchange in respect to alternative energy but it's moving the mind-set in the correct direction. I am sure that all life is precious, there is a balance of nature that needs to be respected, the Latoka have a working relationship with the land, that lots of birds and other wildlife are killed as a direct result of man's demand for energy and by driving cars, building buildings etc...... I am convinced and have been since the 60's that we need to stop polluting this rock we live on and need to find some harmony with the environment....but I am neither tree hugger or greenie just one of those commonsense nuts.

So if you want to have a say have a say in the right place .... comment on the draft statement, if you want to do something turn off your air conditioner, if you want to make a difference then stop complaining one way or the other and do something.

Just wait until the Republicans have the White House and a majority in both houses of Congress. Then we can wipe all these pesky protected animals off the face of the Earth and turn their habitats into wind farms, solar farms, oil drilling farms, strip mines and what have you.

If you let corporate America rape the land and get rid of the wildlife so they can make some real money, they will eventually create some new jobs. Drill baby drill!

@gcooper8

Hence, a birdproof surround is a win-win solution, protecting the turbine and the birds.

Thus endeth the lesson

I commented on this above. Have you seen one of these turbines? The idea of a "birdproof surround" is beyond ludicrous and it has nothing to do with cost. Parts for these turbines come through my town on trucks on a regular basis. They need special built trailers to haul the props because they are one and a half times the length of a standard semi trailer.

Please refrain from giving people "lessons" regarding things you know nothing about.

GCooper.... the problem in this country is that we have corporationpeople and 'leaders' who are too willing to be lazy and take the short cuts rather than find better solutions to problems. Many of these corportions are foreign although some may present as if they are American companies. Why should they care how their activities affects our country if we, our elected poltititians and the usual and customary American companies do not care either?

People come to this country to make money, that is why the first immigrants, pilgrims whatev came to this country, and now because of our willingness to either turn a blind eye or to be bought or to simply give away our country for what ever to satisfy our immediate neediness and greed, and not following, enforcing or putting in place rules and regulations to protect our environment, peoples etc, these corps both American and foreign do whatever they please.

Permanent residence or is it citizenship is being offered to/for foreigners who will come and buy property/forclosures etc here..... imagine that.... What sort of a solution is that to our housing forclosure problem? While we were busy trying to play big spender/financer of wars at the expense of our own infrastructure, education, jobs etc these foreigners were busy saving their money that they did not have to spend to protect themselves.

Our country is being either given away or sold off for pennies on the dollar to every foreign investor they can find, while these same polititians do not want people/protestors to campin or sit in on parks and public space that we the people paid for and our tax dollars continue to maintain and belongs to us the people. There are many countries in Asia where you as a foreigner cannot purchase/own a house in their country. In countries like China it is difficult for foreigners to purchase property there. Yet we in the USA will probably even help with the financing for these other folks but not for our own people.

Many corporations are doing things in the USA that they would not be allowed to do in other first world countries as their rules and regs are enforced and have teeth. Corporations here know there is a problem with something and instead of investing and continually upgrading their businesses they will pay a fine instead and continue what they are doing including passing on the cost of the fine to their customers.

We as a people need to start observing how other countries do things.... many of their technologies are way ahead of our own and when they have find a problem they try to fix it. Imagine if Holland had not invested in their country, Amsterdam would have sunk and be under water now, sooner if they had the levee system that we have in New Orleans. Does anyone think that the oil gusher fiasco that happened in the Gulf would have been tolerated in Great Britain? Haven't their courts upheld carbon captor for even planes recently? How about coal, think that the Aussies are not taking care of business and have even expanded into algae at their coal fired plants as a means of keeping their air and environment clean?

And the list of things that other countries are doing to help themselves goes on while we just happily wage and pay expensive wars at the expense of our people and our infrastructure and environment, while we cannot even afford a better more efficient public transportation system that covers this whole country, public healthcare for all, or provide a subsidized university cost/education thus our citizens end up going broke if they want any of these things.

Why don't Canada refine their own tar sands... because it would bespoil their environment, so they and the other short sighted ignorant people here want these tar sands to run through a pipeline that traverse from Canada to Texas or where ever here to bespoil and pollute our air, land , water etc while it is refined here. LOL

Why should people elsewhere care about the ruination of our country when it appears that we do not care about our own country or fellow Americans?

We are so behind many of the 1st world countries that we are probably a 2nd tier country by now.

We need to get our priorities straight, and begin to hold our elected leaders accountable for the mess that they create or the selling out of our country and birthright. It is so easy to use trigger words like abortions, religiousity etc to set the masses against each other, while they simply continue to allow us to slide backwards into perdition.

Other countries are protecting their environment, water, seas, air, ports, borders and their military expenditures and their citizens while we seem to have a policy where everything is buyable, everything has a price, and anything goes. See fracking......

Instead of giving this company the permit to continue killing birds and the environment beneath these wind turbines they should have told them that they needed to come up with a better design to protect these birds animals and human beings..... I thought I saw an article where people who live near these turbines find that they are loud and the noise irritating and they are not happy about it.

Other countries are protecting their wet lands, and barrier reefs... what are we doing especially if oil was suspected to be there? LOL

It is time to stop doing just the bare minimum to resolve an issue. It is time that these corporations start using some of all that intellect that they seem to believe they have and that make Americans supposedly better than every other country in this respect, and do the necessary R &D and then some for a change.

We all need to speak out about these issues that affect us all, instead of waiting for others to do so for us.

Imagine we can spend enormous amounts of money send a man to the moon and in space, help build a space center and have them return safely yet someone cannot come up with cost effective solutions or put up the money we need to even fix our own water and sewage system or the electric grid or secure our own internet and fix/repair/rebuild e.g. our bridges, high speed trains, decrease the noise of trains etc i.e. solve the problems and issues we are having these days?

Ignorance is not bliss, and ignorance is ignorance.... no wonder there is this devaluing education, teachers etc and knowledge. Hope that folks start to realize that crud sinks to the bottom while cream floats on top.

'Nuff said....

Signed.... ForABetter America Today, Go USA

If this was a fossil fuel operation, Eric Holder's justice dept would be filing lawsuit after lawsuit to stop the killing of these beautiful birds. However, since it involved wind farms (their "darling" industry) they are willing to figure out how to make it work. Once again, the hypocrisy of the left comes screaming through. It's okay if windmills kill wildlife because windmills are good and we love them.

The're just effen birds people.

EROCK17....sparrows, pigeons, starlings are just effen birds.....eagles have a higher status....as we have risen to the task of saving them from extinction.

I would not be so much concerned with the loss of 3 birds in 5 years....I am somewhat concerned as to how that is going to be quantified, policed, verified....I suppose I will have to read the draft statement....damn I hate that.

yeah i hear ya.

I've just been reading too much BS from animal rights people.

Well said yank, well said.

@BZe1

the problem in this country is that we have corporationpeople and 'leaders' who are too willing to be lazy and take the short cuts rather than find better solutions to problems. Many of these corportions are foreign although some may present as if they are American companies.

Yeah, yeah all of the evils in the world are due to corporations. Whoops, sorry- Yeah, yeah all of the evils in the world are due to corporations. God forbid anyone make a buck especially when they could flush money down the toilet and operate at a huge loss in order to keep the sheeple happy.

Of course the problem with that is who would your puppet masters blame everything on then? If not for corporations you might actually realize the people you parrot ARE the problem.

These wind farm blades kill tens of thousands of birds every year. This is just one species. The truth about this mass killing is not well publicised.

Hmmmmm

So, the windmills get a Federal exemption in case they take kill a species that has been endangered/protected for 70 years.

Now what happens if those mean windmills take kill more than the alloted 3 eagles in 5 years? Will they be fined? Will they be required to tear down the wind-farm? Will they just worry about it later like all government decisions always do?

Funny, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service didn't give the oil companies the same kindness when they're dealing with the Dunes Sagebrush lizard in West Texas and Southeast New Mexico that no one even knows if it's endangered. This is one of the most prolific oil-producing regions of the Permian Basin in onshore America. Wouldn't you think you could hire 100 unemployed Americans for a month and relocate these lizards 20 miles away, I think they'll adapt.

Funny, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management wasn't as benevolent when it shut down the construction of a solar plant just outside the Mojave National Preserve because 162 turtles would have to be moved off of a 5.6 acre parcel of the project.

Funny the enviro-mental-maniacs weren't so nice when they shut down the 7,600 acre Spring Valley Wind Project near Great Basin National Park because it was 4 miles from a cave where a million Mexican free-tailed bats roost each autumn and Indian cultural reasons.

It's amusing to watch the irrational Libbies of the "Green Energy" gestapo fighting the "Save-the-Whale" gestapo buffoons and as usual, nothing gets done. The convoluted logic of the EPA must be reined in and a principled energy-policy must be created.

Today what we have directing our energy-policy is lunacy. This is the result of the indoctrination by the Left and elimination of common sense regarding our future energy needs. No wonder we have Solyndra, Beacon Power Corp., and others, 80% of which received DOE backed funding which were run by or primarily owned by Obama financial backers. Of course the Liberals whine all day about crony-capitalism unless it's to their benefit.

The hypocrisy of the Left knows no bounds.

Thanks ERock17....but please don't get me started on the Animal Rights wind bags, nothing POs me more than them!!!!!

Let Freedom Ping....OK you and your mates can live in their own little country where all the cars are gas guzzling, no smog devices fitted, carbon spewing tanks, you can have your own oil wells and one of those wonderful refineries in your back yard, you can fish in your own little stream frothing with hydrocarbons (mmmmm those 2 headed fish taste good), which will also supply your drinking water, you can be surrounded by mountains that have been clear felled and strip minded, you can have a job in a place where safety is secondary and production over people is the rule, the only thing you can't have is medical insurance firstly because you will probably be dead before you're 30 and who would insure some one who doesn't care about his or her environment. Frack U so to speak.

Granted some of the restrictions and regulation do befuddle me, there must be some human benefit analysis done on each project.... but more often than not it is corporate greed which the regulations and restrictions should be applied to rather than a project which benefits the entire community local or global.

A Yanker in Australia

OK mate. I just have a few simple questions for you and your "Green Initiative" drongo's.

How many of you have had a home energy audit done by RESNET (Residential Energy Services Network) to determine your homes energy efficiency?

How many of you are driving in the most fuel efficient vehicles available?

How many of you have re-insulated your homes to the maximum R-rating recommendation?

How many of you have had your windows and doors upgraded to the newest NFRC (National Fenestration Ratings Council) standards?

How many of you have replaced your outdated appliances according to the new Energy Star applications? Including your furnace and air conditioner?

How many of you have installed a geothermal, solar or wind turbine system to release yourself from the grip of the utility companies?

How many of you travel to work in car pools?

How many of you travel on vacation by railroad, rather than car or airplane?

Should I go on?

Not many I bet.

Why not?

Because you’re all too lazy, uninformed and so hell bent against fossil fuels you can’t think straight. You all sit here and rail against BP, the oil industry, coal industry, nuclear energy and any other PROVEN energy sources, yet you all sit in your totally inefficient, drafty, ancient, energy sucking homes and cars and complain! ! !

Don’t even try to excuse yourselves by claiming there’s a scarcity of resources. The AEI (Alternative Energy Institute) was created in 1977, OVER 34 YEARS AGO ! ! ! I had a geothermal system installed over 16 years ago that still works perfectly. I have enough solar collection to power 68% of my home,,,,YEAR ROUND ! ! ! My insulation R-ratings are all at or above the recommendations of the WAP (Weatherization Assistance Program) guidelines. I have updated my appliances over 4 times in the last 23 years using Energy Star recommendations. I do have an inefficient 1999 Ford F-150,,,EXCUSE ME ! ! ! This has come at significant cost outlay on my part but my carbon footprint is 28% of the average American household and my cost savings are double what they would have been otherwise.

And guess what?

I still promote “DRILL BABY, DRILL”!

WHY?

Because we don’t have enough people doing what THEY should be doing and thousands of everyday products are made from coal, oil and natural gas. Most of you talk a big game as far as energy independence, global warming, green this and green that, but your don’t do SH!T about it.

The problem with you Liberal Progressive/RINO, tree-hugging, Spotted-Owl “believers” is YOU don’t want to do it, you want the government or someone else to do it for you. You’re too busy watching Barrack Hussein blowing smoke up your butt or Michael Moore spewing his socialist trash at you while sitting in your La-Z-Boy, sucking down a Bud Light.

Your Messiah, Al “multi-million dollar mansion” Gore, is making fools of you all and you just sit by, uninvolved and uninformed except for your anti-business, anti-rich, anti-American rants. Barrack Hussein keeps the temperature cranked up in the White House until you can grow Orchids in there, but Cap & Tax is a must.

Hypocrites! ! !

When I finally see those CLAIMING there’s a crisis acting like there’s a crisis, I’ll believe there’s a crisis.

But, they didn't say that they would be fined, if a lot of eagles were killed by turbine blades, either.

No sh-t Sherlock. That's because if they violate their permit, there are already fines in place for it. $5000 and/or 1 year in prison for the first offense. Doubled for a 2nd.

What I find amusing were the numerous posters above telling JS that he needs to re-read the article when in fact he was correct and YOU WERE WRONG. As for you Tomvet, I have no clue how you came up with:

If the wind park is not built that means they may kill the eagles so they can build the wind turbines.

There was nothing remotely like that said in the article.

For the rest of you genius's, the article states pretty clearly that it is a permit that will allow for the death of up to 3 eagles by the turbines. There isn't going to be some employee out there shooting eagles flying past. If or when a bird is killed, the company is required to do whatever is required to make up for the loss.

Regardless, collapsing comments like JD's just because he pointed out the fact you lack the comprehension to understand what you read, is pretty childish.

Wow! There are some incomprehensibly stupid people that "read" this article.

Yes of course, the government issued a hunting license to kill all the eagles in the area. Oh wait... it didn't really say that...... well, they would if they could ....... and those corporations ......... man they're freakin evil! And you know what....... they make a profit ........... and don't send me part of it!! I'm pisssed!

We are tanking at an incredibly rapid rate.

FRL...Not sure if your queries are directed at me or the whole however.

Firstly I am an environmentalist and an ecologist, I am concerned with pollution and retaining the balance of nature...while that at some points intersects with energy efficiency they are two different things. I am much more interested in finding suitable and clean alternative sources of energy and reducing the use of fossil fuels as much as possible in respect to the pollution rather than as some economical benefit.

I am involved in the property development industry and have a clear understanding and am responsible for "green buildings" regulation in this country and what it takes to comply with them. I do not always agree that they are the most beneficial for the environment, despite the fact that they may provide some level of energy efficiency.

In regards to your queries

In respect to RESNET we have a similar format/code over here, I consider it BS and more of a furffy that has little effect on pollution or the environment....but if it makes you feel good OK....however the one thing that could be done which would in fact make all the others redundant would be to turn off and throw out your air conditioners (humans are part of the environment not separate from it, open a window, sit in the shade, wear a jacket...wear another jacket etc etc etc).

Fuel Efficient Cars Available - yes I am.... but of course that is the problem much more could be done in respect to the availability, fuel efficiency and the use of alternative fuels..... but big oil and big car and the MIC fight against it tooth and nail everyday. Having said that the air is cleaner now in Los Angeles than it was when I was a kid there because of the anti pollution devices, unleaded fuel, smaller more efficient engines etc which were all going to be the demise of the automobile industry, but alas we have not been that lucky.

Window and Doors - Yes in relation to the commercial buildings I deal with no in respect to home..... I open my windows or put on a jacket.

Appliances - as necessary, I note however that you have mentioned air conditioners ..... one of the major polluters not so much in a residential sense but in larger commercial buildings and as a mind-set......don't know how the human race got so far without them......I don't use one in the car or at home, however my wife has a small room with one in it and uses her's in her car all the time (I have never had any influence on her actions anyway).

Alternative Energy Sources - well I have not installed my personal nuclear facility just yet but I'm thinking about it although the neighbors are putting up a bit of a fuss also all that noise from the geothermal facility is starting to get a bit grating and the neighbors don't talk to me anymore..... such things are impractical in most urban environments, however solar water heating is good I have a wiz bang system which is supposed to be the most effective and efficient, seems to work.

I generally take public transport to work when I am not on site visits.....which no one else wants to go on with me.

I love train travel and do as much of my vacationing on trains as possible and public transport...the train from Melbourne to LA is not completed yet so I have to fly. I am not sure as to the difference between a jet trip or a train trip over the same distance in respect to pollution.....but for me it is much more relaxing.

No need to go on..... I could go on but I won't.

It suffices to say that I believe and have since I can remember (yes I am a Hippy) that we have to do something about the rate we are continuing to pollute this little rock we live on, and the over use of fossil fuels is a big part of the problem...so I say don't drill don't drill don't drill baby because the more we drill the more we use and the excuse is there that "we haven't run out of fossil fuels so why look to renewable, reasonable, accessible, and less polluting alternative energy sources" and start turning our attention to making the things we hold so dear like our lights, TVs, cars, etc to use those alternative sources of energy and keep the big oil, big car, military industrial complex bastards from keeping us down and choking the earth in the process.

In the meantime I appreciate your efforts, agree that too many people are sitting on their butts taking the easy way out and that Al Gore is an idiot and global warming is a farce......however pollution is not and that is what will get us in the end.

On top of all of that my contribution is also as a singer songwriter I write a lot about pollution, nature, fossil fuels etc and I play and sing them and make the point wherever that may be playing that we are choking the earth and need to stop.l

However as is determined with so many of the correspondents and their posts here.... at the end of the day you are just against the current President and will pretty much take up any issue and make up and twist around mere assumptions that in your head brings you back to the position that "all of this is the fault of President Obama" and you don't like the fact that there is a N— — — — — in the White House and even though the current competition is made up of losers, crooks, crazies and a man who has done more for job creation in China (Mitt) than any other American, you would still vote for one of them.

Go Figure? There certainly is a crisis and it is in the mind set of people like you, and you can trust I am acting like there is a crisis.

Transparency is a nice concept to officials while running but becomes obviously impossible to the office holders. The lies and deceptions and more lies built up since Eisenhower would shock your socks off if you knew the truth. The GOP destroyed our democracy at least 8 years ago, try to keep up now. It's gonna take years to fix, if we fix it at all. Given the continuing obstinancy and ignorance displayed by the party, I doubt they will make the task easy or even possible. The self interest of the 1% won....already....some time back....

Excuse me, but human beings are not endangered. You may recall that we reached a 7 BILLION population mark in October?

Also, this is not "open season" on Golden Eagles. Three animals over a five year period, with guaranteed re-population efforts seems entirely reasonable to me.

This permit is an example of RESPONSIBLE, well PLANNED government action. Stonewall moratoriums (like banning all abortions, for example) are the work of absolutists and radicals.

haha, barf

@NC open heart

The GOP destroyed our democracy at least 8 years ago, try to keep up now.

they still are. when obama was elected to the white house and democrats given both houses, they refused to allow any governing of any kind. they blocked and opposed even ideas theyve supported in the past. they did everything they could to sabotage the government because they knew that it would be a political catastrophe if democrats succeeded in improving things.

the only thing they have accomplished in the last decade is to ensure that there is stalemate in the senate for the next few election cycles, as i see democrats feeling justified in behaving the same way when they become minority again.

the only they have accomplished is, indeed, to politically destroy this country. and you are absolutely right, it will take a long time to clean up what they have done.

a

zaruski:

1. The democrats have accomplished absolutely zero in three 3 years; when do you think they might get started on this "long tim"e cleanup?

2. Preventing a party controlling the white house and both houses of congress from doing pretty much what they choose is damn near impossible. Makes for a typical left wing excuse, though, when your leadership in all three is a joke.

To Teacherly - "RESPONSIBLE, well PLANNED government" ah, sarcasm? Surely you know this is an oxymoron.

The embryo isn't a human yet and there is no scarcity of humans, but, there is a scarcity of golden eagles. Humans seem to be the only animal that there isn't a scarcity of and that will be our end.

How can you look at this Golden eagle, and accept it being killed, for whatever reason? The United States of America has become so lax, and afraid of offending anyone, that our government just rolls over and gives in. Our ancestors are ashamed of what we have become as a nation. These regal birds deserve maximum protection, and their habitat preserved. Have you ever seen eagles in the wild, and stared in awe at the gracefullness and power they generate? Wake up America! We need some "kick ass" attitude in the White House, not what we have now.

Ted, the Earth is dying from too much, human too muchness. Tragically, few are literate in the science of ecology, which articulates how the Earth functions and cycles to create and sustain all life.

This eagle is biological diversity, in the eco-nomy of life itself. Now, we are discussing oxygen releasing, the gaseous composition of the atmosphere, climate regulation and moderation, fresh water, food, the entirety of the Earth's biogeochemistry, the nitrogen cycle, the sequestration of the heat trapping gases, the creation and renewal of the soil and a long list of why mankind exists. This eagle is a branch in the tree of all life. We are living in age of vast extinctions of the strands in the web of all life, just like this eagle.

Conversely, a looming global crisis is being fueled by the ever mushrooming clouds of human hordes and their planet killing plows, bulldozers, chain saws, dead solar panel fields, dead windmill farms, cities, freeways, houses, shopping malls and parking lots, all as life creating and sustaining as the surface of Mars. For every plant and animal that falls extinct, man and the Earth grow closer to extinction.

Taking care of this eagle is, taking care of Mother Earth and the future. And, our children's safety in the future.

Build the turbines somewhere else ...problem solved .... we moved into their territory ... not the other way around !!! why should they suffer!!!

Exactly, Spider. I don't know what planet of propaganda these liberals/Dems came from, but when Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress after the 2006 mid-terms through 2010, they had a Supermajority. The GOP had no POWER to stop the Dems from doing anything. Obamacare rammed through with ZERO GOP support proves that perfectly.

And like you said, they've had two solid years of PURE power in Washington from Jan 2009 when Obama took office through Jan 2011 when the GOP took the gavel from Pelosi (thank GOD). What do we have to show for it? Record debt; record amount of people on food stamps and welfare; a net loss of 3 million jobs; degrading in international credit rating; collapsing US dollar; highest unemployment and underemployment since that other failed Democrat president named Carter. Well, see for yourself:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnnyshop/6196456311/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Three eagles in five years is eyewash. The eagles, and all raptors, don't see the turbine blades because they end of the blade is travelling about 180 mph. Wind farms kill raptors, and tree huggers have blood on their hands.

spider: You're right, the Democrats have accomplished almost nothing because as zaruski said, the Republicans have blocked everything proposed in the last three years. They have even blocked proposals they made when Obama agreed with them. Example: 5 Republican congressmen proposed an oversight committee to watch over the second phase of the bailout (which was proposed by Bush, by the way). When Obama agreed, those same five Republican congressmen rejected it.

So, I don't understand what Republicans are talking about (especially Romney) when they mention Obama's failed policies and lack of accomplishment. Virtually none of his policies were ever enacted due to Republican opposition. All that has been proposed by Republicans is a continuation of Bush's policies which got us into the mess we have now. "Trickle down" economics has had plenty of time to prove itself ineffective; started by Reagan and continuing under both the Bushes. All that it accomplished was further enrichment of the wealthy while the rest of us got "peed on" rather than "trickled on."

My problem with Obama is his lack of cojones in standing up to the Republicans and pointing out clearly, directly and forcefully what they have been doing. He is also an extremely poor negotiator, continually giving in to Republican demands with no reciprocation from them. He should have realized early on they were not about to give him anything.

I sincerely hope the Democrats do well in the next election so we can see if their policies will work. They sure worked under Clinton who balanced the budget and left the nation prospering; left Bush with a 2 trillion dollar surplus which Bush blew in his first month by giving an ill advised tax break to his wealthy friends, the so-called job creators. That worked out well, didn't it?

By the way, I'm an independent who has voted both ways during my life. The Republicans have veered so unreasonably far to the right, they have lost any credibility with me. They are NOT working on behalf of the people; there is not even a pretense of this in their actions, only in their rhetoric.

@teacherly...I agree

Can anyone explain where the danger to the eagles is? I was just in Denmark and saw hundreds of these windmills, all across the rural landscape. The blades don't turn at the speed of an airplane propeller, they many seconds to make a single revolution. Yes, I suppose if an eagle flew into one, it would be injured or killed, but how much of a possibiity of that is there.

And one more thing - these machines are tall, slender and very elegant. They take up a very small footprint on the land and the ones I saw were all in the midst of plowed and cultivated fields. A very nice marriage of Land/Nature Conservation and Alternative Power. So shut up, extremists on both sides.

Barry

Makes sense to me ... the eagle is the symbol of Liberty and Freedom thru strength and vigilance ... I know lets make the industrial chicken our symbol ... they produce eggs and once the production falls off the Government can chop us up for chicken nuggets ... I love Obama he's swell

I grewup in the sixty's, bald eagle, golden eagle, pheseant, turkeys's were not seen at all.... DDt for u younger ones the bird bald or golden is our heritage.. strength and wisdom screw some mogal that is on the verge of what .. nothing i request ur comments

Yes, I suppose if an eagle flew into one, it would be injured or killed, but how much of a possibiity of that is there.

Just ONE wind farm in California kills an average of EIGHTY (yes, 80) Golden Eagles each year.- http://toryaardvark.com/2011/08/17/wind-turbines-how-long-before-the-golden-eagle-is-extinct/

"In Denmark, where wind turbines generate 9% of electricity, wind turbines kill about 30,000 birds per year"-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_wind_power

Here is a video if you doubt how easily it can happen- http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8NAAzBArYdw

Well, I've seen the turbines catch fire and I've seen them sit idle. The idea of a wind farm generating enough electricity to power a major city is a mite presumptuous. I laud the idea of getting away from fossil fuels but often the options available are less than stellar. As to bird kills, yup, by the hundreds and thousands. Reminds me of the massive dams that killed off the spawning salmon. For every action there is a reaction, perhaps the uses of electricity should be conserved. Less use, less demand, less need to kill birds and other creatures.

Silly me? I talk about conservation, that doesn't sit well with people who are all out for themselves and to hell with the rest of the planet. The light pollution is so great that the earth, as seen from space, looks like a marquee of a trilion lights. Now, how many of you make a conscious effort to conserve energy?

The light pollution is so great that the earth

I have an acreage a mile outside of a small town and even on moonless or cloudy nights I can easily see my way around at night just from the lights outside of the closed businesses on the road a half mile away. The amount of electricity we burn lighting things that no one is looking at is mind numbing.

Thank you - NC open heart - for your comment. I better understand what is going on now. I was thinking of hunting and not flying into the turbines.

This prevents them from being fined in the event a nest has to be moved or an eagle flies into a turbine.

Well technically it won't prevent that from happening because it never happens now.

This is similar to the joke permits that are issued to allow developers to destroy bat habitats. They allow 5 or 6 acres of wooded wetland to go under, and offset it with two or three bat houses in a small wooded island at the edge of the airport (or similar idiocy.)

And eliminating the bats really DOES affect our food crops - the bats help keep nasty insects like corn earworm under control.

Hey James Eng, you sir are a moron. You're irresponsible writing and sensationalist headline made a lot of readers freak out and misunderstand what the article is about and turned the whole comments section into 1 big mess of misconceptions. But on the bright side, I think the click through ratio is doing well, huh?

I've had birds fly into my one story house's window and brain themselves in more than one home. Let's ban all windows. Birds get sucked into jet engines, let's ban air travel too. Birds fly into oncoming traffic, better close down all the roadways.

So the wind turbines don't generate major amounts of power. It's still better than nothing and it's a step towards conserving what remains of the oil in this rock.

Hmmm....permits to kill a federally protected endangered species...issued because the economic benefits gained out weigh the damage (which is not economic) to the welfare of that species! Well...that settles it...you can no longer say that this administration is not business friendly....uh well...at least friendly to the businesses of their choosing!

I hope this is not the "wind farm" equivalent of Solyndra!

No. It's far better to choke them with fumes from coal fired power plants, or ruin the habitats as a result of that "non-existent" climate change.

You got a point there...let's just relocate them to an area served by nuclear power...no turbine blades, no fumes, no contribution to climate change!

Amazing how well people "read" these days.

Couldn't this company put grilles over the turbines so that the eagles will bounce off of them. I'm not a tree hugger, but keeping animals safe should be a priority to making money, odd though that thought might be to corporate America. I hope they do all they can to keep the birds safe, because when we've killed off all the animals, guess who's next.

@Ralph:

Couldn't this company put grilles over the turbines so that the eagles will bounce off of them.

Ummm...probably not. Why?

"The so-called West Butte Wind Power Project would be developed with as many as 50 turbines that stand between 400-575 feet tall."

(see )

That would require some mighty big-azz grills.

This is so sad. American Indians have to wait up to 2 years to get a Eagle. But in the name of "progress" it is ok, to kill, move or upset their nests. I find this very upsetting and very wrong. These laws were put in to effect to PROTECT the Eagles, but as I said already, only in the name of "progress" will it be ok for them to be murdered. This is so wrong!!

The bafflegab that more-or-less explains this is in paragraph 9, but there is certainly no effort made to explain it in clear terms, leading to all kinds of possible interpretations. I would agree that this is a really poorly-written article that has the potential to get a lot of folks upset.

The bottom line is that the wind farm company is not actively going out to hunt eagles; they just don't want the bureaucratic hassle and fines that could result if eagles are harmed in the course of wind farm operation (such as flying into spinning blades, most likely).

What a bunch of CRAP...KILL THESE BEAUTIFUL BIRDS....Maybe our wonderful president NOBAMA can make one command decision and be a man for a change and stop this stupid stupid law to pas

You are exactly right acg.chicago-2211544 they are NOT going out to KILL. They are CYA as they have too.

These monstrous, deadly, twirling swords are huge killers of our bird and bat biological diversity. Our animal and plant biological diversity is synonymous with Earth's ecosystems, every reason man breathes, life itself. Any agent, regardless, that kills biological diversity, kills Earth's natural ecosystems, all the reasons mankind exists.

Some of this world's top, eco-literate scientists are vehemently against windmill factories as they consume vast tracts of ecosystems while killing our birds and bats and producing low energy yield. Today, environmentalists and their new greenies are cutting off their right hand to please their left. Insanity!

The only green that matters above all else and all other issues is, the salvation and protection of Earth's ecosystems and their strands in the web of all life, just like this eagle.

No, he doesn't make that clear. Further, the Environmental Assessment does say that there is at least one Bald Eagle nest in the project area, and then fails to address what impact this will have on the birds that live there. I want them to fix this, for all the birds. They should be bright enough to figure out how to keep the birds a safe distance away. Right now, their carcasses pile up knee deep under the windmills. It's horrible.

Can you show us a photo of all the dead birds piled up knee deep or are you a little OTT

So you want "green" energy, but, it may not impact any form of life from bacterium to higher forms in any way. Come on, Your freaking dreaming. They ARE NOT issuing hunting licenses. Try actually reading this. They are issuing an exemption from prosecution in the Event of an eagle being killed by a blade or in the event a nest might have to be disturbed to construct a tower. They also ave to pay, in effect, for such damage by paying into a fund for eagle conservation and breeding programs. Where's you outrage about the eagle killed every year in accidents or being shot? With absolutely no compensation.

You freaking Enviro-idiots need to do a little research. Here's a shocker for you. Where do you think the bulk of the money for all wildlife programs comes from. That's right, through the issuance of hunting and fishing licenses and permits, usage fees on public land, and other charges, largely payed by out doors people, not you apartment arm chair conversationalists. And who ever that was whining about how they won't share the profits with the people,,,,,, are you serious? How much do you have invested in this project? You paid for how many of these expensive turbines? Nothing and none is the correct answer, yet, you think yourself entitled to a share of the profits? Really? If you want free everything, move to Europe. In the mean time,,, shut up!

Nicodemus 1946 >< I don't believe they can read.

This company is only allowed 3 birds over a five year period. Hardly an excessive impact.

Here in Missouri our state has brought the bald eagle population back from the brink. We now have one of the largest populations in the country. Elk which used to be native are currently being reintroduced. How is this possible? I do my part by purchasing hunting & fishing licenses yearly regardless of whether I use them or not. Many of us have this mindset that we are conservationists first.

I'm finding most of the people who complain play no active role in fixing the situation just as you have stated.

You can feel a bit relieved to know that Conservation here in the Mid-west is extremely strong and we'll be happy to repopulate your depleted stocks.

SUPPORT YOUR STATES CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT >< The only branch of Govt. that works!

The Dutch use windmill technology for hundreds of years, never heard of any related bird injuries or deaths caused by Windmills

OMG, what a horribly misleading article - you think the author has some kind of agenda? He sure is getting the reaction he was after:

They should be bright enough to figure out how to keep the birds a safe distance away.

Yeah, maybe some warning signs for the birds?

Right now, their carcasses pile up knee deep under the windmills.

Really??? 'Cause I live near a windmill farm, and have seen no such thing. The turbines are large but smooth, no sharp edges, and they really don't spin that fast, either. Birds are actually pretty good navigators, and can usually dodge moving things (like cars that move much faster). You're not giving them enough credit.

It's horrible.

Yep, this article truly is horrible.

The Eagles are not "being killed". Try reading the article again.

HA HA HA! Is no one reading this article...birds are not being killed! They may possibly fly into the wind turbines.

while birds and bats do not pile up "knee deep" under turbines, they are being killed by them. I know, it is my job to look for these casualties as well as pre-contruction surveys. The turbines look as though they are moving slowly but the tips of the blades can spin in excess of 170 mph striking birds as they try to fly and hunt between them. Also, many birds, especially passerines (songbirds) migrate at night and are struck becasue they cannot see the blades. Wind companies have tried everything from lights to painting the turnines in ultraviolet reflecting paint. It may work somewhat. I have not seen the data that shows one way or the other the effect of these treatments on bird/bat collisions. I do know that the national average is around 2-4 birds per turbine per year, and 2-4 bats per turbine per year.

The article's title is misleading, but educated people read through and understand what the author is saying, albeit poorly. What is crazy about this "Take permit" is it doesn't amount to S***. Golden Eagles are protected, but there has yet to be even one single fine levied for the killing of one at any windfarm in existence in the US. Not one! (Also, not one single Wall St Exec went to prison after ripping off the American people for all of their savings and security, so why should we give a crap about a bird right?) The only reason a company would go after this permit is they will likely not kill 3 Golden Eagles, so there would never be any danger of being fined. It would be better for the birds/wildlife if every single construction project, from oil/gas pipelines, wind farms to housing developments had to mitigate their impact elsewhere in the area a 1:1 ratio. One house=1 acre of wetland restored, One Turbine=1 acre of shrubsteppe replanted and put into conservation for the length of the windfarm's lease. Or something to that effect.

All of these issues boil down into one larger problem that until we solve it, is like trying to bail out a sinking ship with a sieve, and that is overpopulation. Get a vasectomy or an IUD and shut up.

Oh no, 2-4 a year? Please, I see more dead pigeons and crows in the middle of the street in a month than you are whining about these birds being killed by windmills in a year. Granted, pigeons are the re-re's of the bird world, but crows are pretty dang smart.

As we progress as a society (or regress as some of these comments prove) we are finding new technologies, or using old, old, OLD technologies to better our lives. Yes, casualities will follow, but animal and human. As tragic as that is, wouldn't that coincide with your "get a vasectomy" idea? Even birds dying and animals dying is necessary. You don't want an overpopulation, so you cull the herd, hence, hunting.

As beautiful as these birds are, they are just birds. Nothing to get so worked up about. It's not like they are tossing infants at the windmills for Heaven's sake.

Congratulations on being the first jerk to bring Obama's name into an article that has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with him or politics. And to boot, you even got 1 vote which makes it more sad to think there's another person like you out there.

really..you sir are a putz..

I get confused by the anti-Obama people. They can switch in a second from complaining about how Obama is a fascist dictator, to demanding he take strong and immediate executive action to correct some perceived problem. So you want government to stay our of your lives but get into everyone else's business to keep you happy.

And it's different than you all blaming Bush for everything, how exactly? ALL dirty, ALL the time, party is of little consequence.

leave our nature alone figure out whats more important like our childrens future.the birds were being watch now that the birds came back from being extinct you want to kill them leave them alone worry about the bats and bees that are dying which will destroy the future if we dont help them.and solar power is the way to go get rid of the oil

@Robert757A

I get confused by the anti-Obama people. They can switch in a second from complaining about how Obama is a fascist dictator, to demanding he take strong and immediate executive action to correct some perceived problem

Clearly your confusion stems from an inability to detect sarcasm. Assuming of course that your "confusion" is not deliberate thus giving you an excuse to criticize someone.

I'm pretty anti-Obama, but really Rob Scan?!? Talk about really grasping for straws. Get a grip.

Agreed. MSNBC is using an obviously inflammatory headline for a story that doesn't support that headline.

Agreed here as well. Another example of media hype over nothing and poor writing. No where does it say this is so the company can actively seek out and kill 3 eagles though it doesn't explain what is really going on very well either. While I have reservations about wind farms (eye sore and not very practical from a electricity usage/demand standpoint) I applaud them for doing what appears to be the right thing. Next step here is to spend the money on solar next time if they want to use an alternative energy.

It is time

It's called 'Yellow Journalism', something I expect from much of today's' media. CBS Chicago had a similar headline a few days ago.. "Motorcycles, Bicycles Can Run Red Lights Under New Law", also a blatant lie and another fine example of Yellow Journalism.

The problem with this is that many will see ONLY the headline and start spreading false information. I honestly believe that this is the intended purpose of the headline.

Come now you guys! Do you really think a top notch news organization like MSNBC, who employees such stellar journalists as Ed Shultz, Rachael Maddow, and Lawrence O'Donnell in prime time would allow a misleading headline to reach the public?

Yup. They and politicians, (all parties) have on thing in common, "If their mouth is moving or they are writing or typing, they are lying to you". ALL dirty, ALL the time.

VAWTS! The best precautionary measures should be in design, the purpose should be to accomplish maximum wind intake and to create a powerful turbine that can be capped with chain link or screening that is able to keep the birds bats and even insects away, ie. take chain linking and cover with a metal or strong screening. The idea would not work at all with a regular big old fashioned wind turbine...but it is not only possible but likely with the newer VAWTS. For one thing size is one thing...power another. Multiple VAWTS!!!Really, where have you guys been??? WATCH THIS and many other guys that have posted already and have the stuff to do it right! Simply the best vawts ever made and more on that same page too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_323368&src_vid=MEKmn2Jm9FI&v=kOWGATlzSrM

What the ef are you trolling about?

JanB, it was just being pointed out that, if a bird died as a result of the wind farm, its feathers at least could be put to good use. It is illegal for most of us to own eagle feathers, but Native Americans (and eagle rehabilitators) are allowed to own them.

Wow...you must be one hell of a husband...."face palm"

How did you jump from 3 eagles on this permit to "killing all the eagles"? Did you even read the article?

Dereck-725802;

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. They read the headline and gleaned all the information they needed to make their point. What is that point you ask?, well, if it kill a single bacteria, then their killing the planet. This is the sort of comment to be expected by the over medicated masses.

How did you jump from 3 eagles on this permit to "killing all the eagles"? Did you even read the article?

Maybe he did some follow up research. What do you do? Just read an article and assume it is the be-all, end-all on the subject? The biggest wind farm in Cali kills 80 eagles a year in a state with a Golden Eagle population of around 2500.

The bill applies equally to oil projects.

Please read AND comprehend the article.

Someone best check old records. All birds of prey are protected under the department of interior. Only native Americans have the right to hunt or"take" . Disposal of same has to be done by native americans. I guess if Big Brother knows best, we should be silent and not question it's wisdom (go vote not for the money but for the quality of the person). I just wounder where our freedoms are going? Now you all chew on this and make me the ass of your opinions.

The bill applies equally to oil projects.

Please read AND comprehend the article.

Give me a break, you know damn well it's true. Wind farms kill hundreds of thousands of birds every year. If oil or NG had such an impact on wildlife people would be rioting in the streets.

The problem is, you have posters who want to dramatize rational compromise by saying all the eagles will be killed. Three eagles every five years to me is still strict. Add in the fact that they have to contribute to the birds continued existence and you have a well rounded marriage between renewable energy sources and nature.

I don't know about anyone else, but I would like to see us get off of fossil fuels sometime in the next 100 years.

We will never be able to reduce the animal liability to zero, so there will always be those that oppose it.

The title is misleading. It's not like they are going to kill today, and build tomorrow. It's an insurance policy in case of accidental death or the ability to move (nests) if necessary.

We will never be able to reduce the animal liability to zero, so there will always be those that oppose it.

Half a million birds a year (plus bats) is a LONG way from zero. If it amounted to jack shti you may have a point but wind will never provide more than a fraction of a fraction of the energy we need. 10 years from now wind will the the new "ethanol", a supposedly "green" energy source that doesn't come close to doing what we were told it would but are stuck paying subsidies to forever.

@Backcountry,

Do some research, the ethanol subsidies expired the first of this year.

Before it is said that I have not read this article I can assure you that I know it word for word...We has a race and as a people have seen this QUOTE:PERMIT many times...PERMIT...(short version)...to transport some natives to protected reservations,provide food and shelter,may lose about 20-50 on some PERMITTED removals...PERMIT...to starve or break the native people by PERMITTING the slaughter of 10-40 million buffalo...PERMIT...Shoot on sight...wolves...color no matter...PERMIT...Hunt whales...PERMIT...clobber seal pups...PERMIT...cougar hunts,bear hunts,oil and gas hunts...do you kind of get my meaning on how easy it is to PERMIT our very existance...NO PERMIT should be required for ACCIDENTAL death by turbine,no need to involve nests,eggs,or other eagles...

Yes, yes, the sky is falling...sheesh!

The bill wasn't written specifically for one wind farm. It applies to all manner of projects so I fail to see the supposed collusion here. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act was passed in 1940 and this is simply the first permit issued under a new set of regulations meant to enable lawful/accidental eagle deaths to occur without a mandatory fine, up to a certain limit. An oil company/railroad/airport, etc can all apply.

Gee, and the companys building the pipeline haven't contributed a dime.... Right? Right?! WRONG! Let's see if I can make this clear, thre's a HUGE difference between possibly unintentionally killing a couple of eagles ans intentionally TEARING A FREAKING GASH ACROSS THE ENTIRE U.S. from North to south so the oil can be sold to China. Yeah, I know. Limburger promised the oil will go to us but if that were true why not build a refinery further north? Like in Canada. Thy're going t have to build a refinery because we don't have the capacity, remember? Those nasty environmentalists won't let us build refimeries and we need more. At least that's what the oil companys say.

You're being played, dude.....

Wrong is wrong is wrong. If you support protecting wildlife and the environment then you support it and not only when it's politically expedient for your particular party. Otherwise you are being a hypocrite. The environment being bought by political donations from either side is wrong.

This WAS just for this one wind farm! "allow West Butte Wind Power LLC to kill as many..." It's nice to know that the environment can be bought and sold by the democrats just as quickly as by the republicans! Follow the money, don't take my word for it!

What is your point? To stay on fossil fuels forever?

Who really gives a sh!t. I seriously doubt that any will be killed. Have you even seen these wind turbines? They move so slow that even the dumbest of birds can get out of the way.

The irony in all of this is, these monstrous earth-killers also destroy the habitat/homes, food, shelter, cover and nurseries of countless strands in the web of all life or Earth's biological diversity, in the economy of all life, the creators of Earth's ecosystems, all the reasons mankind breathes.

The other irony is, for the construction of these planet butchers, they have to disturb the soil where the heat trapping gases are stored as ecosystems naturally are the sequesters of the heat trapping gases, which will be released upon disturbing the soil. Next, they remove the plant biological diversity, another whammy of released back into the atmosphere, C02 and methane, heat trapping gases. Each tree stores many pounds of heat trapping gases in their oxygen releasing, cooling the climate evapotranspiration, rain making life giving bodies.

Also, disturbing the soil plants invasive, deadly weeds that have changed the dynamics of wildfires in the entire western states, causing, hotter, faster and more frequent wildfires. Weeds that also kill our native biological diversity.

So, how are windmills slapped on the Earth, not an ecological disaster. Birds, bats, big horn sheep, amphibians and reptiles cannot make a living from dead windmills, and these species are the creators of Earth's ecosystems and all of man's life creating and supporting cycles, functions and systems. It's a no brainer!

skor154 - I like! Check out www.Coalitionforsensiblesiting.com. It's a new site but the truly environmentally minded might like it! The proliferation of this nasty, polluting, spinning crap is going to lead to environmental devastation of Biblical proportions if people don't start critically considering the long-term ramifications of eliminating entire species from the food chain. (Eagles are at the top for raptors.) People don't seem to understand that the earth is a system, so if you infect or harm one part of the system, the entire system suffers. They see a bird and think nothing bad will happen if we kill all of that particular kind of bird because there are other, different, birds. It's nuts.

Has anyone seen how huge these wind turbines are? What bird could not see one of them a mile off is beyond me!

Damned right we hate that Communist prick!

CAKid... you just did something communal...you used the word we...who is we?

Who are you including in your sentence? Any group who shares something in common ....the meaning comm, for the good of all, comm unity. Get a college education that is real. I do not even know what this construct you have imagined is or where you got it from. But too many people of voting age are just running around using terms they do not even know the meaning of and we need an informed voting population to make an informed vote. That is a fact.

Yeah, 'cause a wind farm is JUST like drilling for oil. Except the wind farm doesn't involve drilling into the earth and pulling up billions of gallons of a toxic substance and burning it.

Lee, you have it exactly right. They are estimating that only three every five years will die. When the wind farm is up and running, they will probably be killing dozens, but by then it will be too late. They will be stashing dead eagles and pretending it was some clerk that did it on his own, and the big wigs will pretend they knew nothing about it. Poop runs downhill. It lands on the guy at the bottom.

They ought to have video cameras, and if any tape is missing, they ought to fine them a hundred thousand for every break in the tape. Eagle cams.

Windmill construction also kills the habitats of all the strands in the web of all life or Earth's biological diversity, just like this eagle. As far as our living Earth is concerned, they might as well slather Mother Earth up with a gigantic oil spill.

Windmills devour vast tracts of Earth for low energy yield. The most planet saving energy is nuclear, which devours so much less of the living, life giving, physical body of Earth or ecosystems, every and all reasons mankind exists.

Man is the only animal so stupid as to kill his only nest. Can dead windmills and dead solar panels pump oxygen, balance the gaseous composition of the atmosphere, provide the entirety of Earth's biogeochemistry, create and renew a life giving soil or take care of those heat trapping gases and create the very biosphere/ecosphere of Earth?

Hahahaha...that's funny. I'm not sure if you intended a joke or were being serious. But I'd say that if a bird doesn't know how to avoid a big propeller going "WHOOSH WHOOSH", then you can mark it off as survival of the fittest. A scarecrow placed atop a giant turbine would do little to improve on the situation.

Why not some mesh in front of the blades, my fan at home has one so I don't cut off my fingers and air seems to still flow...

Yes I was being sarcastic.

It is shameful and outrageous to "take" or "kill" these innocent eagles out of their natural habitat in return for altruistic ideals. Again, the federal government actions do not represent the interest of the many, but for the few organizations that is making this country disregard ethical treatment of all animals.

Are you comparing a single accidental eagle strike during normal operation of a turbine to a mechanical failure leading to a blowout which causes a widespread spill? A better comparison to an oil spill would be if the turbines fell over, caught fire, and burned a thousand acres of forest.

I'm not picking sides here, each have there problems, but this permitting process is simply a way for projects (not just wind farms) to get a break on environmental concerns while enabling them to be better stewards of the environment. I'm sure the oil companies have plenty of legislation in its favor allowing certain environmental accidents as well.

I don't think we have any idea how many birds are going to get whacked from these turbines. I have heard that there will be far more bird strikes form wind turbines than have ever died from coal fired power plants.

Maybe we can teach the Golden Eagles to avoid the propellers? (Don't fly into the propellers. They hurt!)

this sickens me! shame on anyone who would condone this or give them a "take". youve practically killed off the natives now you want to kill of their messengers. whose next?

maybe its time we do since my hard earned tax money i have to pay go to the native that squander every subsidy its given. Its time to get cut off and the natives to start being self sufficient and quit crying. I think in order to get food and health benefits you need to be sober and have a job.

I have a 1/4 acre of property with two tall pines, and would be willing to completely fence it off for a chance for the birds to live instead of killing them............ They would recieve the utmost care, Please "HELP" me save them, with all seriousness, "HELP".

Want to see what kind eye-sore footprints wind farms leave on the environment? Take a trip to Palm Springs, California.

you don't want to use oil, or wind, or build dams. It might hame the environment, the birds, the fish. or our eyes. Tell me renodel just what the eff do you want?

radagast - "... this permitting process is simply a way for projects (not just wind farms) to get a break on environmental concerns while enabling them to be better stewards of the environment. I'm sure the oil companies have plenty of legislation in its favor allowing certain environmental accidents as well."

Really? lol. Nothing like selectively choosing when to protect the environment ... "if I call it green I can bypass environmental concerns." Reminds me of a TV interview several years back with an Az solar farm owner, gloating when he could see nothing but solar panels all the way to a mountain range 10 mi away.

radgast - "... this permitting process is simply a way for projects (not just wind farms) to get a break on environmental concerns while enabling them to be better stewards of the environment. I'm sure the oil companies have plenty of legislation in its favor allowing certain environmental accidents as well."

Really? lol. Nothing like selectively choosing when to protect the environment ... "if I call it green I can bypass environmental concerns." Reminds me of a TV interview several years back with an Az solar farm owner, gloating when he could see nothing but solar panels all the way to a mountain range 10 mi away.

Natural Selection---If the birds are not smart enough to avoid the blades...survival of the fittest

While they are not the national bird they are one of the most beautiful creatures on the planet, and, to say OH WELL it's just a bird, if you killed all the birds and all the animals the ecosystem would collapse and all humans, including you, would die. But, your'e just a moron. Crap happens. Waste of life.....

You can say that until one poops on your windshield

one or 3 or even 80 isnt a whole population. beautiful, yes, but so is an elk i shoot it.. a deer? this isnt an exctincton profesy. i live next to a wind farm.. funny thing.. lots of wildlife still lives around them. weird i know. and yet the birds fly AROUND the turbines... i wonder how they got so smart.. wait "smack" yup that hurts... look joe just died maybe we should avoid those....

Yeah. Every time an eagle accidentally gets domed by a wind turbine we kill an employee of a company that is providing people with clean renewable energy and doing what they can to offset the ecological impact of accidental bird deaths. Wake the @!$%# up dude.

I totally agree!

I have to say that this is very wrong. Golden eagles reach sexual maturity and are ready for breeding when they are four years of age or older. These birds are monogamous and mate until one partner dies. Afterward, the living partner will find a new mate.

I find this to be really an outrage, lets not just take our right away But now they are going to start killing our wild life all for the sake of money.

Does not matter how many they are allowed to kill, they are protected and this should not be changed! We have killed so many and brought them to be instinct. And now because someone can pay big money the rules are being changing? Make's no sense! Now the wild life is having to make ways just to survive thats one let me give two more and we keep taking the land and killing them and they are all fighting to survive. It's a sad world when we lose the animlas.

wouldn't let me leave the links, you can find me on fb and the links there

Idiot...

That hurts

Booyah, dbett!!! Standing ovaluation!

They are not only not gold, you can't even make slippers out of them

These birds are amazing and beautiful. They should NOT allow any killing of these EAGLES. Shame on the Feds and anyone requesting such a thing. THINK TWICE.

Wtf!?! I'm glad the company wants to contribute to and support the eagles, but why would they have to get a "take" permit ? If the eagles accidently run into a fan, that's sad, but its an accident. It's not the eagles fault or the company so there should be no legal action taken to punish the company. Why woud you need a permit to cover accidental deaths? To me, for a company to just go out of their way to apply for a permit means they are purposely killing these animals. You don't get a permit to kill deer just incase you hit one driving your car. You get a permit because you are purposely going to take the life of a deer for whatever the reason. It's just alittle fishy if you ask me. Our wildlife is important reguardless if they are a Countries symbol or not. I give the wind-farm props for using alturnitives to make electricity, and props for helping the wildlife conservation. But I do not agree that they should get a permit to kill eagles. Like i said, if it's an accident why would you need a permit ?

They need the take permit because these eagles had special laws protecting them that made it a crime if one accidentally killed itself by flying into the turbines.

The do not mention bald eagles. They do not mention the laws are already in effect that all eagles killed are first autopsied and then all parts given to Native American tribes, solely. They do not mention, and most important of all, is they are building these turbines in the direct path of well-known and documented migratory paths for eagles! They know the consequences. Think before you build, and build where you do no harm. These turbines are really necessary; that is why we are exporting oil and gasoline to other countries as we speak? None of this makes any sense to me. No one is thinking clearly. Soon we will have open hunting season again for eagles because we "think" they are no longer endangered. Think again. And those that would pull out a shotgun and kill and eagle just for the hell of it are punished severely. At least $100,000 fine and at least up to a year in jail. Hunters refuse to buy lead-free ammunition for hunting live prey because of the cost? Back to the 1940's we go. Happy hunting, your idiots who are not informed on the damage you do every year. Just sit in a tree and shot anything that goes by. Wow, what a challenge! The eagles survived many more insults in the past, and hopefully will survive this energy-hungry country. Hopefully, we'll be the nest in line for extinction.