An article at the UK Mail notes this statement by field biologist Doug Bell, manager of East Bay Regional Park District’s wildlife program:  “it would take 167 pairs of local nesting golden eagles to produce enough young to compensate for their mortality rate related to wind energy production,” unfortunately, as Mr. Bell tells the LA Times “We only have 60 pairs.”

If only this disregard for wildlife were isolated.  The developer for the pending Pinnacle wind plant to be located on the Allegheny Front in Mineral County WV sees no reason to secure an incidental take permit even after the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources and the US Fish and Wildlife Service expressed concerns over critical habitat and there exists clear evidence of Bald Eagles residing in the immediate area.

The real shame is that the organizations claiming to protect such creatures are complicit in their demise.  By blindly supporting this fraud of electricity production, groups allow the habitat to be destroyed and turn a blind eye to the killing of these magnificent creatures in the name of progress.  Aided and abetted by a local press which serves as an advocate rather than watchdog, the entire landscape which is home to several migrating bird species and numerous colonies of frail bats is placed in jeopardy.

I can only hope that if, after the Pinnacle developer, US WindForce LLC, and the new owner Edison selfishly chose to ignore the danger signs and endangered species are killed, they are, in fact, held in “criminal liability and potential criminal culpability” and are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.