Wind turbines

Wind generated energy is a renewable and sustainable form of energy that does not emit greenhouse and acid gas emissions that are produced from the combustion of fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil and coal.

As such, wind turbine energy is considered by many to be the cleanest and safest way to generate electricity. Growing in popularity in Canada, wind energy can power our homes, businesses, schools and industries, and is often the main source of electricity in remote communities. However, despite these benefits, wind turbines can have a negative impact on wildlife, especially birds and bats.

Wind turbines and wildlife

Birds and bats can be negatively impacted by wind farms due to a number of reasons. Mortality can result due to collisions with turbine blades; wind farms can result in habitat avoidance, displacement and habitat fragmentation; and mortality can be a factor if wind farms are placed close to bird and bat migratory corridors or stopovers.

Lessons Learned

A lot has been learned from Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area in California. This poorly sited wind farm, located within a major migratory route, kills thousands of birds including burrowing owls and falcons.

With wind farms situated in almost every province and territory, the Canadian Wind Energy Association states that as of January 2008 Canada’s current installed turbine capacity was 1,856 MW, enough to power 560,000 homes in Canada.

The lesson learned is that measures need to be taken to ensure the protection of Canada’s wildlife populations.

CWF’s Position

Although bird deaths due to wind turbines are lower when compared to other causes of mortality such as cat predation or window collisions, there is still reason for concern. As more wind farms are built in Canada, the cumulative impacts of this rapidly growing industry may initiate or contribute to the decline of some populations of birds and bats and could be detrimental to species at risk.

CWF supports the development of wind generated facilities in Canada as long as environmental impact assessments are carried out when a wind turbine facility is proposed.

CWF provided comments on a draft document and was pleased to see the completion of a set of national standards aimed at minimizing the impacts of wind turbines on wildlife. The document “Wind Turbines and Birds: A Guidance Document for Environmental Assessment” ensures that critical data such as birds, habitat, human use, meteorological data and facility size must be gathered to determine the sensitivity of a proposed project as well as mitigation measures to ensure the smallest environmental footprint possible for a project.