Published: February 11, 2009 11:28 pm      

Study finds Erie park’s turbine poses little threat to birds, bats

HARRISBURG — Following a state report that wind turbines could harm bats, a study of a turbine at Presque Isle State Park in Erie found no such threat to bat or bird life.

“Undertaken by a scientific team from fall 2006 to spring 2008, this intense bird and bat mortality study supports the Bureau of State Parks’ decision to install small-scale wind turbines at Presque Isle and five other state parks,” said bureau Director John W. Norbeck.

Similar turbines have been installed at the following state parks: Prince Gallitzin; Yellow Creek; Pymatuning, Crawford County; Tuscarora, Schuylkill County; and Promised Land, Pike County.

“(The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) wanted to know if there was reason to be concerned about erecting smaller units,” Norbeck said Wednesday, citing evidence of bird and bat kills at sites with much larger generating turbines.

The nearly two-year independent study concluded that a wind turbine poses no overt threat to bird and bat life.

Erected in May 2007, Presque Isle’s 120-foot turbine generates about 10,000 kilowatt hours annually in supplemental power to the park’s education center.

Another report was released last month on larger turbines at an undisclosed site.

It was compiled by the state game commission and wind-energy companies, including Gamesa Inc. of Ebensburg, in their first annual report.

It found significant bat deaths at one undisclosed turbine site in Pennsylvania.



Not worried

After a Sunday story about a study into the mortality rates of flying animals around wind farms, visitors to The Tribune-Democrat’s Web site were asked: “Are you concerned about the impact of windmills on bats and other flying creatures?”

With 260 votes counted, the results:

Yes: 16.92 percent.

No: 81.15 percent.

I don’t know: 1.92 percent.