Officials Weigh Value of Saving Eagles and Wind Energy
2022-08-22
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1The golden eagle - a large, powerful bird - is at the center of an effort to balance environmental protection and energy in the western United States.
2Government policy protects golden eagles.
3But it also supports the building and growth of wind farms.
4Wind farms are groups of huge windmills that produce electricity from the wind.
5The problem is that windmills are often responsible for killing golden eagles.
6The center of the conflict is Wyoming, a state where many golden eagles live.
7It is also home to a lot of large wind farms.
8In April, a Florida-based power company pleaded guilty in federal court in Wyoming to criminal violations of wildlife protection laws.
9Its wind turbines killed more than 100 golden eagles in eight states.
10The case was the third conviction of a major wind company for killing eagles in 10 years.
11Federal officials have tried to cut wind turbine deaths while avoiding any slowdown in the growth of wind power.
12Some consider wind power to be a better choice than carbon-based fuels that release carbon gasses into the air.
13Fossil fuel reductions are a big piece of President Joe Biden's climate-related plans.
14Bryan Bedrosian is the conservation director at the Teton Raptor Center in Wilson, Wyoming.
15He said, "We have some of the best golden eagle populations in Wyoming, but it doesn't mean the population is not at risk."
16He added, "As we increase wind development across the U.S., that risk is increasing."
17Golden eagles do not reproduce until they are about five years old.
18They have one baby bird, or chick, every two years.
19As a result, adult eagle deaths have large effects on the population, Bedrosian said.
20There are about 40,000 golden eagles in the U.S.
21Scientists say deaths from collisions at wind farms could drive down golden eagle numbers.
22Despite the deaths, scientists like Bedrosian say more turbines are needed to fight climate change.
23The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) says the number of wind turbines nationwide more than doubled over the past 10 years to almost 72,000.
24Wind development projects often overlap with golden eagle living areas in states including Wyoming, Montana, California, Washington and Oregon.
25USGS scientists said in a recent study that increased turbine-caused deaths could cut golden eagle populations almost in half over 10 years.
26That could happen if predicted growth in wind energy continues, the scientists warned.
27But, the lead writer of the study, Jay Diffendorfer, said no population-wide decreases have been seen in recent years.
28This suggests that some predictions might not be correct.
29Climate change is also a great threat to golden eagles.
30The National Audubon Society warns rising temperatures could reduce golden eagle breeding areas by more than 40 percent within about 80 years.
31The federal government estimates that illegal shootings are the biggest cause of golden eagle deaths, killing about 700 golden eagles each year.
32More than 600 die each year in crashes with cars, wind turbines and power lines.
33About 500 are electrocuted and more than 400 are poisoned.
34Federal wildlife officials are pushing wind companies to take part in a permitting program that lets companies kill eagles if the deaths are offset.
35Offset means to create an equal balance between things.
36Companies with permits could pay utility companies to replace power poles, so that lines are spaced far enough that eagles cannot be easily electrocuted.
37Every 11 poles that are changed means one less eagle death each year.
38Nationwide, 34 permits that were in place last year permitted companies to "take" 170 golden eagles.
39That means 170 birds could be killed by turbines or lost through effects on nests or living areas.
40For each loss, companies are responsible for ensuring at least one eagle death is avoided somewhere else.
41Using conservative estimates that method could even mean a gain of eagles over time, said Brian Millsap.
42Millsap heads the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's eagle program.
43He said: "This sounds crass but it's realistic. Eagles are going to be incidentally killed at wind farms...We've got to reduce other things that will allow wind energy development."
44I'm John Russell.
1The golden eagle - a large, powerful bird - is at the center of an effort to balance environmental protection and energy in the western United States. 2Government policy protects golden eagles. But it also supports the building and growth of wind farms. Wind farms are groups of huge windmills that produce electricity from the wind. The problem is that windmills are often responsible for killing golden eagles. 3In Wyoming 4The center of the conflict is Wyoming, a state where many golden eagles live. It is also home to a lot of large wind farms. 5In April, a Florida-based power company pleaded guilty in federal court in Wyoming to criminal violations of wildlife protection laws. Its wind turbines killed more than 100 golden eagles in eight states. The case was the third conviction of a major wind company for killing eagles in 10 years. 6Federal officials have tried to cut wind turbine deaths while avoiding any slowdown in the growth of wind power. Some consider wind power to be a better choice than carbon-based fuels that release carbon gasses into the air. 7Fossil fuel reductions are a big piece of President Joe Biden's climate-related plans. 8Bryan Bedrosian is the conservation director at the Teton Raptor Center in Wilson, Wyoming. He said, "We have some of the best golden eagle populations in Wyoming, but it doesn't mean the population is not at risk." He added, "As we increase wind development across the U.S., that risk is increasing." 9Unclear future 10Golden eagles do not reproduce until they are about five years old. They have one baby bird, or chick, every two years. As a result, adult eagle deaths have large effects on the population, Bedrosian said. 11There are about 40,000 golden eagles in the U.S. 12Scientists say deaths from collisions at wind farms could drive down golden eagle numbers. 13Despite the deaths, scientists like Bedrosian say more turbines are needed to fight climate change. 14The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) says the number of wind turbines nationwide more than doubled over the past 10 years to almost 72,000. Wind development projects often overlap with golden eagle living areas in states including Wyoming, Montana, California, Washington and Oregon. 15USGS scientists said in a recent study that increased turbine-caused deaths could cut golden eagle populations almost in half over 10 years. That could happen if predicted growth in wind energy continues, the scientists warned. 16But, the lead writer of the study, Jay Diffendorfer, said no population-wide decreases have been seen in recent years. This suggests that some predictions might not be correct. 17Climate change is also a great threat to golden eagles. The National Audubon Society warns rising temperatures could reduce golden eagle breeding areas by more than 40 percent within about 80 years. 18The federal government estimates that illegal shootings are the biggest cause of golden eagle deaths, killing about 700 golden eagles each year. More than 600 die each year in crashes with cars, wind turbines and power lines. About 500 are electrocuted and more than 400 are poisoned. 19Federal wildlife officials are pushing wind companies to take part in a permitting program that lets companies kill eagles if the deaths are offset. Offset means to create an equal balance between things. 20Companies with permits could pay utility companies to replace power poles, so that lines are spaced far enough that eagles cannot be easily electrocuted. Every 11 poles that are changed means one less eagle death each year. 21Nationwide, 34 permits that were in place last year permitted companies to "take" 170 golden eagles. That means 170 birds could be killed by turbines or lost through effects on nests or living areas. 22For each loss, companies are responsible for ensuring at least one eagle death is avoided somewhere else. Using conservative estimates that method could even mean a gain of eagles over time, said Brian Millsap. Millsap heads the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's eagle program. 23He said: "This sounds crass but it's realistic. Eagles are going to be incidentally killed at wind farms...We've got to reduce other things that will allow wind energy development." 24I'm John Russell. 25Matthew Brown reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. 26_____________________________________________________________________ 27Words in This Story 28turbine - n. a tall structure that has large blades attached to an engine and that is used to produce electricity 29conviction - n. the act of proving that a person is guilty of a crime in a court of law 30conservation - n. the protection of animals, plants, and natural resources 31overlap - v. to have parts that are the same as parts of something else 32utility company - n. a company that provides electricity, water, or another necessary service 33nest - n. the place where a bird lays its eggs and takes care of its young 34crass - adj. having or showing no understanding of what is proper or acceptable : rude and insensitive 35incidentally - adv. not intentionally 36__________________________________________________________________ 37What do you think of this story about eagles? We want to hear from you. 38We have a new comment system. 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