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The concept of harnessing the wind to provide a large portion of our energy needs sounded like an ideal answer to many of us who were worried about the damage to the environment from obtaining and burning fossil fuels. As well as being a clean renewable energy source, it seemed as though wind farms would also be aesthetically pleasing with silently rotating blades reminiscent of a rural Netherlands landscape. However, our initial, naive concept of wind power did not foresee the magnitude of the development of commercial wind power or the major issues that could negatively impact the surrounding environment including birds, animals and our own homes and neighborhood.

Commercial wind farms stretch across the countryside for miles with modern wind turbines that are gigantic in proportions. The immense scale is beyond anything we ever imagined. The turbine height can be 400 or more ft - the approximate height of a 40 or 50 story skyscraper. The diameter of the rotors on a 400 ft turbine is 290 ft - almost the length of a football field. The rotor blades weighing more than 7 tons are marked with flashing lights and can spin at 200 mph. Because of their size and numbers, the lighted wind turbines become the dominant visual aspect of the landscape as far as the eye can see, destroying any natural scenic beauty by day or night. And on sunny days, the spinning blades cause shadows and blinking strobe-like effects to sweep across the land on grazing cows, on children playing, and through the windows of our homes.

Constant low frequency sounds are emitted by the spinning rotors creating significant levels of background industrial noise pollution as far as 3,000 feet away. The sound has a pulsing character caused as a wing passes the turbine mast. When several turbines operate nearly synchronously the pulsing greatly increases in magnitude. The sound resembles "pile driving or an endless train." As the wind changes directions the blades' angle must be adjusted, which creates a loud grinding noise. If the wind becomes too strong the blades' rotation must be stopped, resulting in a screeching sound similar to that of a train stopping. That same loud screeching occurs when the blades are restarted.

Wind turbines can cause interference with radio, television, and microwave transmissions and reception. There is a danger from stray voltage, increased lightening strikes, and an increased fire hazard. In addition, wind farms create a loss of habitat for wildlife and the turbines can kill birds through collision and electrocution.

Unfortunately, the heaviest hawk and songbird migration often takes place above high ridges, lake bluffs, and lake and ocean shorelines which are also ideal locations for wind farms. The wind turbines at Altamont Pass in California kill on average a thousand raptors every year as well as several thousand smaller migratory songbirds. Even migratory bats are victims. At Backbone Mountain, West Virginia 4,000 migrating bats were killed in a single season.

Even though modern commercial wind farms can only provide enough power to supplement traditional power plants and will not eliminate our need for oil or coal or nuclear fuel, they are now rapidly being constructed across this country with help from government funding. Wind farms are being planned for areas particularly well known for bird migration such as Cape May, New Jersey, the Gulf coast of Texas, and the lake bluffs and mountain ridges of Pennsylvania.

With the passage of Pennsylvania Governor Rendell's Growing Greener II initiative, $80 million over four years will be provided to expand the grant program earmarked for wind energy in the state. Commercial wind energy companies, such as Gamesea, have already approached Pennsylvania state agencies to consider the construction of thousands of wind turbines on state forests, state parks, and state gamelands. Trees must be cleared for roadways to the tower sites as well as a very large area surrounding the base of each tower. In some areas, bedrock will need to be blasted through for each tower's substantial foundation.

Public input is needed to be sure that wind power developers locate commercial wind farms on sites where the turbines will not have a significantly negative impact on wildlife, migratory birds, residential areas, and scenic views. We need to keep alert before deals with developers are made. Participation is needed in your township or city council meetings where zoning regulations for siting wind turbines should be made. And write to your state legislators regarding state-owned lands NOW before it is too late.


For current issues on wind energy see the National Wind Watch website at www.wind-watch.org.

Read the following letters (in PDF format) written by people who live near wind farms by clicking on the underlined name:
Personal Letter from Fenner, NY
Personal Letter from WV
Remarks from Senator Alexander

The conferences PIAS previously held on organic lawns and landscaping proved to be of interest to many individuals, near and far. Therefore, we will continue to provide meaningful information on our website and hope that you all will take the time to seriously consider all the facts and suggestions included.

***One major suggestion that will help you and our community to experience healthier surroundings is to CANCEL YOUR LAWN CARE SERVICE unless they are using organic methods. Then refer to the sources mentioned below to help you to rethink your lawn.

Here are some other good web sites on organic lawn care and landscaping:
Green Landscaping with Native Plants
Great Lakes Ecopage
University of Buffalo Green Page
Audubon at Home

Presque Isle Audubon Society brochures are available in Erie at the following locations: Asbury Woods, Gerlach Garden Center, Nickel Plate Mills Inc., Stan's Garden Center, Wild Birds Unlimited, and several libraries.

Brochures:
1. Pesticide Use? - Less is Better, None is Best
2. Lawns for a Healthier Planet
3. Landscapes for the 21st Century

How often do you think about your lawn? What are your concerns about your lawn? Surely there are many different views, but we would like you to add a few options to your thoughts. First, your lawn is a major source of nonpoint pollutants if you use pesticides and fertilizer indiscriminately. Pesticides are poisons and they can affect you, your pets, and all forms of wildlife. Excess fertilizer often ends up in nearby streams and lakes. So what can you do? Adjust your attitude about your lawn.

First of all consider an alternative to the traditional lawn. Take a look at the following publications: Backyard Conservation, The Wild Lawn Handbook, or Native Plants in the Creation of Backyard, Schoolyard, and Park Habitat. All are available from PIAS, some libraries, or the Erie Bookstore.

If you must continue with a traditional lawn, use the following steps. Get a soil test kit from the County Extension Office ($6.00). Only use the nutrients needed and in the places where they are required. Any fertilization needed should be done in April or May unless you can wait for the optimum time in SEPTEMBER. If the pH needs adjustment, pelletized dolomite lime should be applied in March or NOVEMBER. The optimum time for seeding is SEPTEMBER but, if needed, seeding can be done in April-May.

Draw a map of your yard and consider your plantings and their needs. Water only as needed in early morning but don't make your lawn water dependent. Proper fertilizing and watering will provide a healthy lawn that will be pest and weed free.

Individual choices can have a significant impact on global climate change. Reducing your family’s heat-trapping emissions does not mean forgoing modern conveniences; it means making smart choices and using energy-efficient products. Americans’ per capita emissions of heat-trapping gases is 5.6 tons—more than double the amount of western Europeans—we can all make choices that will greatly reduce our families’ global warming impact.

Though you may pay a bit more up front, you will see a return on your investment in terms of energy savings within a couple of years. Your efforts to stablize our climate is hard to put a price tag on.

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recyle! Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (buy in bulk or the economy size when that makes sense for you) will help to reduce waste. And whenever you can, recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminum cans.
• Aim to recycle half of your household waste. CO2 reduction = 2400 lbs/year

2. Conserve Water
You can reduce your energy consumption by using less hot water. Run your dishwasher only when full and use the air dry option.
• Wash clothes in cold or warm water, never hot.
C02 reduction = 500 lbs/year When it’s time to replace your washing machine, choose a new high-efficiency front-loader. You’ll see great savings on water, electricity, and detergent, and you’ll discover you can more safely wash delicate items, too.
• Buy low-flow showerheads to save hot water CO2 reduction = 350 lbs/year

3. Tame the Fridge Monster
New refrigerators use about 50% less energy than those made just 10-15 years ago. That’s important because refrigerators account for between 10 and 15% of total home energy consumption. The next time you buy a new refrigerator or any household appliance look for the Energy Star label to be sure you’re getting a high efficiency model. In the meantime, keep your refrigerator’s thermostat set to the recommended temperature and clean the condenser coil regularly. This one, very simple thing can improve the efficiency of your refrigerator by a third! If you own a second refrigerator, unplug it when it is not being used for special occasions.

4. Home Heating and Cooling
Reduce excessive use of home heating and cooling. Try turning up the thermostat in the summer and turning it down a few degrees in the winter. If you don’t have an automated thermostat, install one. Program it to adjust temperatures at nighttime. Try installing better insulation throughout the house. Seal up windows, close vents, and clean filters. If you really want to save energy, try to avoid using air conditioning on all but the very hottest days. You’d be amazed at how effective ceiling fans alone can be in making you feel cooler.
• Set your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy. CO2 reduction (for each 10-degree adjustment) = 500 lbs/year.
• Wrap your hot water heater in an insulating blanket. CO2 reduction = up to 1000 lbs/year
• Set your thermostat just 2 degrees lower in winter and higher in summer. CO2 reduction = 2000 lbs/year

5. Change Your Light Bulbs
Switch from conventional incandescent bulbs to energy-efficient compact fluorescents. Or better yet, try to maximize your use of natural sunlight for daytime lighting needs. Replacing just one 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save you $30 over the life of the bulb. CFLs also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, use two-thirds less energy, and give off 70 percent less heat. If every U.S. family replaced one regular light bulb with a CFL, it would eliminate 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, the same as taking 7.5 million cars off the road.

6. Think Before You Drive
Consider driving less by taking public transportation, walking, bicycling, or carpooling. Drive a more energy-efficient vehicle. When you drive, follow the speed limit and drive at a consistent speed. Take your car in for regular tuneups. Take off any rooftop carriers when not in use. Keeping your tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than three percent. Every gallon of gas you save not only helps your budget, it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
• Leave your car at home at least two days a week (walk, bike or take public transportation to work instead). CO2 reduction = 1,590 lbs/year

7. Plant a Tree
Plant leafy trees around your house to provide windbreaks and summer shade. Each year, the average yard tree cleans 330 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. An average tree absorbs ten pounds of pollutants from the air each year, including four pounds of ground level ozone and three pounds of particulates.

8. Buy Local
As much as possible, buy local produce and other goods. The fewer miles your fruits and vegetables have traveled, the less energy has been used for refrigeration and transportation. Whenever possible, select organic produce. The pesticides used to kill pests also kill the organisms that help keep carbon dioxide in the soil.

9. Stand Tall
Yes, your individual actions do add up! But with more consumer choices — such as the option to buy electricity from renewable sources, more and less expensive hybrid car models, among others — we can have an even greater impact. But we won’t be successful in reducing global warming pollution without strong federal leadership. These changes will come about only if you act. You can do a lot to press local and state government, and Congress to curb global warming. Stay informed, write letters to your leaders, raise the issue at Town Hall or district meetings, and support candidates who promise to take the aggressive and farsighted actions necessary to curb global warming.

10. Cut Emissions in Your Yard
Gasoline mowers are big polluters and greenhouse gas emitters. In one hour, a conventional lawn mower produces as much pollution as 40 late-model cars driving for the same amount of time. Try a manual or cordless electric mower, or be sure to tune up and maintain your gas mower so it runs with fewer emissions. Reduce the amount of lawn you need to mow by planting native species of ground covers, plants and wildflowers, or vegetables – that’s better for birds too! Plant trees for shade, CO2 absorption and improved air quality. Mulch gardens with pesticide free clippings. Take your yard organic and eliminate chemical inputs of pesticides and fertilizers. Nitrous oxide, a byproduct of nitrogen-based fertilizers, is a potent greenhouse gas

National Audubon Society • 1150 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 600 • Washington, DC 200036
202-861-2242 • audubonaction@audubon.org • http://www.audubon.org