GAINSVILLE, FLORIDA, USA, June 18, 2008.
According to a report pre-presented at Windpower 2008 in Houston, Texas,
US, wind power has less impact on wildlife than other energy sources when
looking at the full generation life cycles of different energy sources.
Christian Neumann, President and Principal scientist at Pandion Systems
presented results from a report “Electricity Generation Effects on Wildlife
Populations: A Synthesis, a ‘cradle-to-grave’ analysis of six major energy
sources’ effects on wildlife”, which will be released this summer.
The report looks at the effects of the extraction, transportation,
construction, power generation, transmission and distribution, and
decommissioning stages of electricity generation on wildlife. The risks to
wildlife are weighted from ‘very low’ to ‘very high’.
Fossil fuels and hydro power presents very high risk, concludes the report,
whereas nuclear power represents a medium-level risk. Wind also carries
medium risk to wildlife in power generation and transmission phases, but has
no documented effects on wildlife population levels. The study does
acknowledge, however, that the impact on bats requires further research.
The report was commissioned by the New York State Energy and Research
Development Authority.
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