ALTAMONT PASS SETTLEMENT FAILS TO REDUCE BIRD KILLS

California

A January 2007 settlement agreement intended to reduce the number of bird deaths from wind turbines at Altamont Pass, California is failing, say scientists who reported that the thousands of wind turbines at Altamont Pass are killing raptors and other birds at approximately the same pace as before the settlement.

• In the lawsuit, environmentalists cited a 2004 California Energy Commission report estimating between 1,766 and 4,721 birds were killed by Altamont wind turbines each year, equaling 47,682 to 127,467 birds over the 27-year life of the wind farm.
• The Audubon Society, a party to the lawsuit settled last year, noted among the birds deaths are between 456 and 1,129 raptors killed each year, including 75 to 116 golden eagles killed annually.

As a result, environmental groups are calling for additional restrictions on wind power generation.

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