Bird Enthusiasts To Sue Feds For Allowing Wind Turbines To Kill Eagles For 30 Years

The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) announced it was suing the Obama administration for finalizing a rule that would allow wind farms to kill eagles for up to 30 years. The bird group says that the new rule violates existing federal laws. ABC says it supports green energy, including wind power, but the Interior Department’s eagle “take” rule finalized last December goes too far and allows wind power producers to ignore basic environmental protections and analysis. “ABC will take appropriate action to protect eagles and other migratory birds. The 30-year eagle permit rule – adopted in the absence of any [National Environmental Policy Act] document or any consultation under [the Endangered Species Act],” the group wrote to the Interior Department. Last year, reports began to surface of the huge impact wind farms have on bird populations. One report said that 573,000 birds and 888,000 bats were being killed each year by wind turbines, more than 30 percent higher than federal government estimates. Many of these birds were protected by federal laws, including the Migratory Bird Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act...more

Yes, but you can't dish out grants and low-interest loans to those endangered birds the way you can to political contributors.