Wind farm activism is taking an interesting turn. Yesterday, the Ministry of Justice of USA announced that Duke Energy Renewables S.A. has agreed to file charges against her for violating legislation on bird protection.
Thus, the company admitted that its wind farms in Converse Country of the State of Wyoming of the United States, were responsible for the death of 14 golden eagles and other 149 bird species. The birds died all between 2009 and 2013.
The company also said that since it launched its first park on these green energy projects, it was aware of the fact that wind turbines could have fathered birds, and said that over the years it had become every effort to minimize the risk.
Specifically, a press release issued by the US Department of Justice states: “H. Duke Energy Renewables Inc., a subsidiary of Duke Energy Corp, based in Charlotte NC, pleaded guilty today in US District Court in Wyoming to violating the federal Migratory Bird Treaty (MBTA) in connection with the deaths of protected birds, including golden eagles, in two company's wind farms in Wyoming”.
"This case is the first Migratory Bird Treaty criminal crackdown on unauthorized free flight of birds by businesses with wind projects energys" adds the press release.
Η Duke Energy Renewables Inc. is now expected to pay fines of $ 1.000.000 (€ 740.000) for nature restoration and social benefits. The fines will be paid to various fauna conservation groups, including the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund, the Wyoming Game and Fish Division and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
And also, the company must implement measures aimed at minimizing the risk posed by wind turbines for the birds in the area.
“We are deeply saddened by the impacts of two of our wind energy facilities on golden eagles. Always controlwith all reports of all incidents, and from the time we discovered the first death, we worked closely with the National Fish and WildLife Foundation to take proactive steps to correct the problem," said company president Mr. Greg Wolf.
"No form of energy production or human activity for energy is completely free of the impact and wind energy is no exception," he added.
In fact, the uncontrolled installation of wind farms without serious environmental studies, with only money in mind, is a destructive material and spiritual heritage to our children. We give them both the wrong way of thinking and a ruined land. Activating citizens, and especially local organizations, can hit companies where they hurt, in money. With losses greater than their expected profits, they will reconsider their next investment.
