Paint It Black

If the US achieves the goal set by the Biden administration of carbon-free electrical generation by 2035, wind turbines will play a large role. Although wind farms do not emit greenhouse gases, they have a serious drawback.  They kill an estimated 140,000 to 675,000 birds per year.  Turbine blades spinning at 150 mph are difficult for birds to detect. They appear as a blur, not a solid object, that birds interpret as something they can fly through, like a cloud.  

There may be a simple solution to what seems a difficult problem.  In 2003 the Renewable Energy Laboratory published results of a lab study of American Kestrels that suggested painting a single blade black would be enough to protect birds from what is known as "motion smear".  The report recommended testing the. possible solution in the field.  A science team in Norway adopted the suggestion.  They studied avian fatalities at a small wind farm on Smøla island.  Their study showed a 72% reduction in fatalities.  The study was small scale, but it was enough to ignite interest in the United States,

Pacific Corp. owns large wind farms.  It has paid millions in fines under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for killing protected species including 38 Golden Eagles at Glenrock/Rolling Hills and another site in Wyoming.  So it is interested in painting some of its turbine blades black.  This summer it will paint one turbine blade on each of 36 turbines, while the other 100 or so remain unaltered in a large scale test of the idea,  Two other utility companies are partners in the project along with the Oregon State University and the non-profit Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute.  Similar studies are occurring in the Netherlands and South Africa,

Energy companies may seek protection from penalties by voluntarily adopting safer technologies and practices by applying for permits and credits under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.  The process has recently been streamlined and application fees reduced to encourage more companies to participate in the program.  Clean energy and conserving wildlife is the way forward from here.