What would happen if we started to go wind power hard core and the wind mills start killing off endangered....

Question

birds?

Answer 1

I doubt this would happen. Think about it. Killing of birds??? The birds probably wouldn't even be able to get near the wind turbine because of the force of its power. And wind power is already being used widely in Europe. They have hugh turbines in the middle of the ocean, not wind mills. They haven't found that birds are killed as a result of this. But it reduces carbon emissions and uses natural power for energy. I did research on this for a research paper of about 8 pages. So I know a little bit about and would like to know more, but I'm sure the birds are safer around these rather than their habitat being threatened by global climate change or deforestation. Does this answer your question?

Answer 2

Thats why they changed windmills to be slow turning instead of the bird choppers of the 70's and 80's.   Now they turn around 4-12 rpm instead of hundreds.    Smokestacks, their pollution and light pollution also kill birds.   Along with power lines, cats, cars, windows...

Answer 3

It's highly unlikely.  

I'm all for wind power.     It makes all the sense in the world.  

Unfortunately, my Senior Senator opposes wind power because it changes the view from his yacht.

Answer 4

I have two wind turbines on my property in west Texas, and more turbines coming. This area was a major flyway for sand-hill cranes. There used to be tens-of-thousands of cranes winter in the area before the wind farms went in. Since the wind farms, I haven't seen a single crane on the ground. They have found somewhere else to go. That may not be such a big deal , but there are development plans to cover the entire western half of the state of Texas with wind farms which will surely put enormous stress and pressure on wintering migratory birds. Realize that these aren't very efficient for the size of the turbine and the area a wind farm covers. Don't forget that when the wind doesn't blow, they don't generate power. When you hear the hype and propaganda about these, just listen with a critical ear... it's not a perfect solution. I'm certainly not going to give back my royalty checks, but at the same time, I'm not particularly fond of what is happening to the landscape of all of west Texas. Be aware that the Utopian picture that wind promoters are painting comes with down sides that they won't tell you about. Be smart and know all the facts. Wind farms are not "evil" but they're not all they're saying they are either.

Edit: I find it intersting the thumbs-down marks I've been getting.

Answer 5

I have heard that more birds are killed flying into buildings and other structures than we will ever kill with the big turbines.  This another unfounded mistatement by people opposed to change.

Answer 6

I wouldn't worry over a few birds, and considering the tremendous expense of windmills I don't think we'll every see it happen.  Now maybe if they were a lot cheaper we could look closer at the idea.  There's still no affordable large-scale alternative to what we have now.

Answer 7

I don't know what davem thinks is 'affordable', but have you ever looked at the actual costs of generation?  The link below has some numbers, but you have to remember that the cost of coal is likely to go up over time, whereas the cost of wind will remain the same.  Having a fleet of turbines in place before then will be critical.

Answer 8

wont happend

Answer 9

umm, are you on crack!? how the heck would a windmill kill a bird?

Answer 10

The same thing that has happened to millions of species over the lifetime of the earth, they will be gone, some for the better, some for the worse

If they are already endangered it's been "something else"  killing them off, or nature is tired of them....

Answer 11

AND-- what will happen if we keep sending 700 billion per year out of the USA to buy foreign oil? and gasoline gets to $8.00 per gallon? ( that's 7 TRILLION dollars in 10 years)--

In case you cannot figure it out-- this number will bankrupt us.

Answer 12

they would just have to die...they are just animals, it's ok

Answer 13

Then you would historically be no different than many of the supposed "green movement" or enviromental movements. There have been many cases where their self righteous attempts in one part of the country resulted in something much worse happening. I vaguely recall an attempt to save the spotted owl or some sort of bird which they won, but resulted in the area ending up with oil derricks on it.

The fact is, you are never going to win any arguement to "save the planet" if your facts, science and other such "proof" can't show that the planet needs saving in the first place. So far the green movement has been full of enough liars, bad data and progaganda to drive even the most casual interest away from your cause.

But if you want to do it to feel good about yourself, have at it. Its a free country.

Answer 14

Plus those giant propellers are ugly and not "natural" at all!  I thought they wanted to preserve nature, not ruin it!  "Wind Farms" take up acres of land (that should be inhabited by people not by giant fans) and are inefficient and expensive!  You're still using electricity--you're just generating it in a way that's less efficient and costs a lot more!

http://www.bwea.com/energy/how.html

Tommy: Why deny the truth?  I guess we need to kill animals to save them (I'm pretty sure the spotted own would prefer to die of old age from cumulative carbon monoxide exposure from Al Gore's private jet rather than being chopped up into pieces):

http://www.socme.org/Images/kills.jpg

http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/vi...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kqedquest/5...

http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/vi...

Answer 15

Renewable energy still has an impact on the environment.  Covering the landscape with wind turbines or solar panels will result in some destruction of habitat.

Answer 16

Fried spotted owls! Yummy!!

Answer 17

There have been few recorded incidences that wind mills are a serious danger to birds.

Answer 18

Lesser of two evils. I'd rather kill off 8 species of birds (which likely wouldn't happen) than kill off entire ecosystems via global warming. Regardless, solar will likely be the big winner after eventual technology breakthroughs.

Answer 19

with too much wind power you are bound to have global cooling

Answer 20

Let me start off by saying we (my family and I) live completely, 100% “off of the grid and are completely self sufficient”

There are no utility lines, no water lines, no roads, tv, cell service, etc. on our ranch. EVERYTHING needed is produced here. All electricity comes from 27 solar panels, 2 main wind gens and a back hydrogen generator if needed (typically we can last 9 days with all luxuries of sunless windless weather, hasn't happened yet). Water is caught and storaged from the rain. Hot water is made with solar batch water heaters with an on-demand hydrogen hot water heater as backup. solar chimney, solar AC, solar heating, solar water heating (pool and home), solar stove, solar power, wind power, hydrogen powered back up generator, hydrogen back up water heater, hydrogen stove, 2 hydrogen powered trucks, 1 EV (electric vehicle) and satellite internet. Even our vehicles use alternative energy (2 hydrogen trucks, 1 EV electric vehicle converted). Because of this we have no bills, no debt and no mortgage.

Anyone interested can check it out at..

www agua-luna com

Electricity from the wind is one of the simplest forms of alternative energy. i've personally built over a dozen wind gens and currently run all my electrical needs off of 2 wind turbines and a couple dozen home made solar panels.

Basically think of the little motor in your car (the alternator), but insted of it being turned by a belt driven by your car's engine powerd gas, it's turned by the wind.

I offer a step by step DIY guide to walk anyone interested threw the process. You can find it at www agua-luna com or you can email me.

The fallowing steps were taking directly out of a DIY guide I offer to those who would like to run their homes on wind power safely, reducing their monthly utility bills or even selling power back the the electrical companies. The entire guide is available at www agua-luna com

"This manual is based on using a 260 VDC, 5 A continuous duty Treadmill Motor with a 6 inch threaded hub. These motors are available for under $50 from most motor surplus stores. We are getting about 7 amps in a 30 mph wind. In other words, it is a simple, cheap little machine to get you started.  "

"ASSEMBLY

1. Place the motor on top of the square tubing and bolt it in, using the two 5/16” x ¾” bolts.

2. Place the diode on the square tubing, about 2” behind the motor, and s***w it into position using the self-tapping metal s***w.

3. Connect the black wire coming out of the motor to the positive incoming terminal of the diode (Labeled AC on the positive side).

4. Connect the red wire coming out of the motor to the negative incoming terminal of the diode (Labeled AC on the negative side).

5. Center the tail over the square tubing, at the back end. Clamp your tail onto the side of the square tubing.

6. Using 2 self-tapping screws, s***w the tail in place.

7. Place each blade on the hub so that all the holes line up.  Using the ¼" bolts and washers, bolt the blades to the hub.  For the inner three holes, use two washers per bolt, one on each side of the blade. For the outer three holes, just use one washer next to the head of the bolt. Tighten.

8. Hold the end of the shaft of the motor (which comes through the hub) firmly with pliers, and turn the hub counterclockwise until it tightens and stops.

9. s***w the nipple tightly into the floor flange using a pipe wrench.

10. Clamp the nipple in a vice so that the floor flange is facing up and level.

11. Place the square tubing (and everything that is on it) on top of the floor flange and move it so that it is perfectly balanced.

12. Through the holes of the floor flange, mark the square tubing at the point of balance.

13. Drill these two holes using a 5/32" drill bit. You will probably have to take off the hub and tail to do this).

14. Attach the square tubing to the floor flange with two sheet metal screws.

For a longer life span of your wind generator, you should paint the blades, motor sleeve, mount and tail."

www agua-luna com

Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at  www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.

Dan Martin

Alterative Energy / Sustainable Consultant, Living 100% on Alternative & Author of How One Simple Yet Incredibly Powerful Resource Is Transforming The Lives of Regular People From All Over The World... Instantly Elevating Their Income & Lowering Their Debt, While Saving The Environment by Using FREE ENERGY... All With Just One Click of A Mouse...For more info Visit:  

www AGUA-LUNA com

Stop Global Warming,