Minnesota wind turbines third in nation in producing megawatts of power

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Minnesota wind turbines third in nation in producing megawatts of power

Tuesday, 30 October 2007
by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

Minnesota wind turbines produce more megawatts of power than found in any other state with the exception of Iowa and Texas, according to the American Wind Energy Association.

Minnesota’s wind-energy capacity was estimated at 895 megawatts, compared to 936 megawatts for Iowa and a nation-leading 2768 megawatts for Texas.

(Neighboring Wisconsin has a capacity of 53 megawatts with North Dakota and South Dakota combined, boasting some 222 megawatts.

Over the last 10 years the U.S. wind power capacity has shot up from less than 2000 megawatts to just shy of 12,000 at the end of 2006.

But is this coming at a cost to others using the skies?

Turbines and birds

While many environmentalists laud wind energy, concerns have been voiced about the literal impact turbines are having on birds.

Indeed, early critics of wind power compared the perceived effect of the turbine blades have on birds to running birds through a blender.

According to a recent report by the National Academy of Sciences, the toll of birds taken by those big spinning blades is likely not extreme.

It’s estimated that perhaps 1 billion birds are killed every year in the United States as a result of collision or other fatal contacts with human structures, vehicles, or activities.

Against this huge number, the death toll attributed to fatal wind turbine-bird collisions in 2003 — a toll estimated at between 20,000 and 37,000 — was judged not currently significant.

At least one local resident with a wind-powered home, State Auditor Rebecca Otto of Marine on the St. Croix, has found little evidence their turbine is cutting an aerial swath through the birds, she reports.

“Birds hit glass much more often than they hit wind generators — that’s our problem, birds flying into windows,” said Otto recently.

Among bird species, the academy reports, migratory or nocturnal birds are killed the most by turbines, though numerous reports exist of raptors — birds of prey — also being struck and killed.

The academy speculates wind turbines probably have the gravest impact on raptors and bats because both animal groups are naturally long-lived.

The academy calls for more study of the issue.