Letter: Prevent turbines to save eagles

To the Editor:

Goodhue County has very good nesting grounds for bald eagles, golden eagles, raptors, and many threatened species of birds including the loggerhead shrike. Just recently, many new bald eagle nests with adults and baby eaglets have been found within the AWA Goodhue Wind Project. Information on golden eagle activity has also been received.

AWA Goodhue has proposed industrial wind turbines sited within its footprint — some very near (less than two miles) from bald eagles’ nests and areas these eagles forage, roost, perch, hunt, and nest.

My concern is that these large wind turbines may kill the bald eagles as well as many of the other bird species mentioned above if they are sited too close to the eagles and their activities.

Under the major findings from the AWA Goodhue wind project, the loggerhead shrike habitat and pre-construction spring migration survey states:

“No eagles’ nests exist within the project area. No eagle flight paths were observed through the project area, and the project area contains little riparian habitat suitable for bald eagles.”

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has found improved numbers of bald eagles in our County. Why would we want to allow the wind developers a “free pass” to set up improper siting of wind turbines that could slaughter the eagles and deter the increased numbers in our county and all of Minnesota?

From the recent findings of bald eagles and suggested golden eagle activity seen from public roads, it appears the desktop study done by Westwood Professionals for AWA Goodhue is not sufficient.

AWA Goodhue Wind now knows about the eagle activity in Goodhue County. Therefore, it is imperative that a thorough and complete avian study be completed prior to the permitting of this wind project.

Barbara A. Stussy

Zumbrota

Tags: opinion, letters, goodhue, wind, zumbrota