HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-11-20, Page 13Wednesday, November 20, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 13
ADVERTISEMRNT
Gord Potts
Director Business Development
and Project Manager
Grand Bend Wind Farm for
Northland Power Inc.
Cats kill 200
million birds per
year in Canada,
while wind
turbines account.
for only 16,700
avian deaths.
http://grandbend.northiandpower.ca
Canada's Bird Population -
Wind Turbines are not their greatest threat
Did you know that the greatest threat to Canada's bird popula-
tion is domestic and feral cats, killing 200 million birds per year?
It is estimated that there are 10 billion birds in Canada, and of
those, over 270 million wild birds are killed each year as a result of
human -related activities.' Environment Canada recently released a
report identifying the top causes of avian death. Their report con-
cluded that, cumulatively, the chief sources accounting for over
95% of all bird deaths (including nests and eggs being destroyed)
in Canada are; cats (zoo million), collisions with road vehicles (as
well as during road maintenance,), buildings (homes, mid -rise,
high-rise — 25 million) and electrical power (transmission lines,
hydro reservoirs, electrocutions — 25 million). The report also goes
on to state that hunting (5 million), pesticides (2.7 million) and
agriculture (2.2 million) also contribute to avian deaths, as well as
activities from the oil and gas industries, forestry and mining, and
harvest activities.
One of the most interesting findings in this report was that
Environment Canada asserts, based on their cumulative and
Canada -focused research that an estimated 16,700 birds per year
are killed by wind turbines; representing less than a hundredth
percent of the total.'
The report indicated that bird deaths are predominantly linked
to urban centers with concentrated population density, as well as
those provinces engaged heavily in agriculture and land develop-
ment, including Ontario. The report states "Southern Alberta and
Ontario stood out as areas with potentially high cumulative ef-
fects because of a convergence of several human activities."'
As renewable energy developments, particularly wind farms, are a
relatively new and rapidly expanding sector in Canada (especially
in Ontario) it is beneficial to have this concrete evidence to assist
in dispelling the perpetual myth that wind turbines are the great-
est contributor to avian death. Wind is a growing energy source
across Canada; with 7,051 MW currently installed, up from 137
MW just 13 years ago when data was first collected. In Ontario we
currently have 2,000 MW of wind energy currently installed, more
Intelligent energy for a greener planet
by Gord Potts
than 3,600 MW of new wind energy initiatives already committed
to, leaving 1,500 MW of new contracts to be awarded in 2015 in
order to meet the Ontario Government's Long Term Energy Plan,
to be achieved by 2018.'
Here at Grand Bend we are installing 48 turbines to construct
and operate a 100 Megawatt wind facility, and one crucial
environmental component of our pre- and post -construction
reports is assessing Terrestrial Wildlife and Wildlife Habitats.
Given that birds are a crucial part of Ontario's biodiversity, their
protection is heavily monitored especially in regards to wind
development. In a Project Description Report drafted in
February 2012 by Neegan Burnside for the Grand Bend Wind
Farm it was noted that several actions must be undertaken as
proposed mitigation, which included; field studies to con-
firm the presence, significance, sensitivity and abundance of
wildlife, an Environmental Impact Study, consultations with
relevant communities and, if required, permits under to Ontario
Endangered Species Act will be obtained. One of the most
important aspects of finding a location to a develop wind farm
is ensuring that the environmental impacts will be minimal,
and we here at Grand Bend can assure you we have adhered to
our commitment to perform robust environmental studies and
to hold ourselves to the highest levels of bird protection and
mitigation strategies. To that end, we encourage all domestic
cat owners to keep their pets inside during dawn and dusk and
to join us as we continue to dispel myths about wind energy!
As always, if you have questions please contact me at
grandbendenorthlandpower.ca.
t http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/geekquinox/environment-report-reveals-top-
causes-bird-deaths-canada-t8aa3t599•hrml
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/geekquinox/environment-report-reveals-top-
causes-bird-deaths-canada-t8aajt 599. h tml
3 https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/8005s9-environment-canada•bird-
study.html
4 http://www.canwea.ca/pdf/canwea-factsheet-FedProlnitiatives-fiinal.pdf
Northland Power is an Ontario -based company with over 25 years experience developing,
owning and operating facilities that produce and sell clean and green energy
l
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