GLIN==> Save The River Calls for Moratorium on Wind Energy Development in Upper St. Lawrence River Valley

*Save The River Calls for a Halt on Wind Energy Development Due to
Environmental Concerns*

* *

*Clayton, NY (August 4, 2010) -  *Save The River is urging local
municipalities bordering the Upper St. Lawrence River in the U.S. and Canada
to implement a three year moratorium on wind project development. The move
was taken after careful review of recent data showing potentially high avian
and bat mortality from the first six months of operation of the Wolfe Island
Wind project, the only operating wind project in the region.



Additionally, Save The River is calling for a cumulative assessment of bird
and bat mortality and other environmental impacts for wind development in
the Upper St. Lawrence River valley, coordinated by agencies in the US and
Canada. The assessment should consider two regional scenarios, one for 500
wind turbines and the other for 1,000 wind turbines.



 “The initial high avian and bat mortality documented at the Wolfe Island
Wind Project along with the lack of any cumulative impact assessment for
wind projects proposed within the St. Lawrence valley, demand a ‘wait and
see’ response from decision makers in the communities that are now involved
with examining environmental impact studies from wind developers,” stated
Save The River in a  position paper detailing the rationale for the
moratorium and cumulative assessment.



Several factors influenced the call for a moratorium on wind energy
development in the region including:

•         The St. Lawrence River valley contains one of the most unique and
substantial grassland habitats in eastern North America, which is home to
specialized bird populations and provides critical foraging habitat for a
variety of raptor species. This habitat is increasingly scarce due to
development pressure and further threatened by wind energy development.



•         The Indiana Bat, a federally listed endangered species, has been
identified as a resident in several communities slated for wind energy
projects. The scientific community has expressed growing concern regarding
the potential for bat kills and population declines given the rapid
proliferation of wind power facilities and the large-scale mortality that
has occurred at some facilities.



•         No agencies have begun to assess the cumulative impacts of the
more than 6 projects proposed along the Upper St. Lawrence River and, as a
result, little if anything is known about the cumulative impacts of these
projects on the River ecosystem. Nor has any cross-border coordination with
Canada occurred, resulting in a lack of information for agencies assessing
project impacts.



 “Without a full picture of the impacts of wind energy development along the
Upper St. Lawrence River, it is irresponsible to move forward with the wind
projects currently in development at this time,” stated Save The River
Executive Director Jennifer Caddick. “Communities along the St. Lawrence
River have worked hard to protect the River’s water quality and wildlife for
many years. A precautionary approach is the only way to ensure that the St.
Lawrence River ecosystem remains vibrant and healthy.”



###



*For more information, contact Stephanie Weiss, Save The River Assistant
Director at (315) 686-2010 or stephanie at savetheriver.org *


*********************
Jennifer J. Caddick
Executive Director, Save The River
Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper

409 Riverside Drive
Clayton, NY 13624
Phone: (315) 686-2010
Cell: (315) 767-2802
Fax: (315) 686-3632
http://www.savetheriver.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.great-lakes.net/lists/glin-announce/attachments/20100804/3d320825/attachment.html