I’ve been seeing a number of advertisements in Nevada lately with the headline, “Coal: A Bad Bet.” Opponents prefer “alternative energy” sources, like wind power. Alas, those giant California windmills which the “greens” apparently want to bring to Nevada are deadly to endangered birds.
Now, this is going to sound ridiculous, but recall that entire highway and hospital and other construction projects have been blocked by environmentalists worried about the fate of some fly or toad or snail darter, whatever the heck those are. So what to do about this Associated Press story over the weekend?
“An annual survey shows that the number of dead birds recovered at an East Bay (CA) wind power farm jumped sharply last year and raises concerns that efforts to prevent protected species from being killed by whirling turbine blades aren’t working.
“A group of consultants overseen by Alameda County and wildlife biologists from UC Santa Cruz say the number of dead golden eagles, burrowing owls, red-tailed hawks and American kestrels found at the wind farm on the Altamont Pass rose nearly 90 percent between September 2006 and September 2007.”
Wind power is causing aviary genocide? This must be stopped immediately! And if clean-burning coal is bad, how are we ever going to power our espresso machines?
I know what you’re thinking. Safe, clean, affordable nuclear energy, right? But where will we store the waste until it can be reprocessed affordably?
Would somebody please get Harry Reid on the phone for me…
Posted on February 4th, 2008 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: Nevada
I have no problem with coal fired generating plants.
I do have a problem with the continued existence of the “Grand Escalante Wilderness” designation for the only “Super Clean” coal deposit in the U.S.
Klinton made the designation, after leaving Utah, from Arizona.
Bush should prove he’s serious about giving U.S. industry a break from high energy cost.
He should issue an executive order removing the Utah clean-coal fields from the wilderness area.
“Stroke of the pen, law of the land, kinda cool”. That would be a juicy rejoinder to the Klinton & eco-nut cabal.
At the same time maybe we could free Nevada’s Black-Rock desert from the shackles of it’s “Wilderness” and National Conservation Area (NCA) designations.
Sierra Harry claims to support “Alternative Energy”, but he’s the one who weaseled the Black Rock NCA into a budget bill.
Thus cutting off some of the best geothermal energy sites in Nevada.
Killed any possibility of mining in the area too, no matter what strategic minerals might be there.
Our energy problems are political, not scientific.
The solution will have to be political as well, stop kissing the posterior of anyone and everyone who claims to be “saving the planet”.
It’s time to drill EVERYWHERE that we know the oil is at, while we bring the alternatives to practicality.
Chuck,
A comment on bird endangerment because of windmills…I believe the “people” who complain about this can only complain…if really true, there have got to be some methods to draw birds away from the windmills.
Birds are dumb, period! There is probably nothing that can be done anyway!
BUT, to inform the complainers…about three years ago I built my house in South Reno and it has a lot of glass for views! Point: there have been at least 20 birds: sparrows, pigeons even a hawk or two that have slammed into my windows and killed themselves! And I have to clean the windows…FEMA?
Gosh, don’t tell anyone since I might have to do something to protect the dumb, stupid birds!!
Dick
I love using coal (with firewood) in our woodburning stove in Utah.
Richard,
You left out the delicious backstrory on why Clinton, in the last days of his adminsistration, designated the area wilderness……..and yes,it has to do with the coal!
Dennis,
I know about the Riadey (SP?) connection and their illegal campaign contributions, I just wanted to keep the post reasonably short.