This is for personal, noncommercial use only.
Today's Front Page
Gas Buddy
Thinning bat population not solely limited to New Jersey
Print this Article- Font Size:
- Default font size
- Larger font size
An endangered species of bat is at the center of the first federal review of wind turbines and their effects on the flying mammals.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are investigating what effect a wind turbine project planned for Schaffer Mountain in Pennsylvania would have on the endangered Indiana bat.
Not only is the bat an endangered species, but the creature's population across the country has been decimated by a mysterious disease called white nose syndrome, named after a white fungus that appears on the noses of dead and sick bats.
Scientists still do not know what causes the disease, but its effects on bats are devastating. In a recent bat count that took place in Morris County, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife was expecting to see 26,000 to 29,000 bats. Only 750 remained at the cave.
When such low bat numbers are found, any other risks become that much more dangerous. As more wind projects appear across the country, the risks to bats are brought to light.
Bats are not being killed by the spinning blades themselves. Instead, the spinning blades create areas of low pressure.
Since bats have more sensitive respiratory systems than most mammals, they cannot handle the change in pressure. The sudden change causes their lungs to collapse and their capillaries to burst.
An independent research team in Pennsylvania discovered that the wind project was to be built near known bat habitat. This included everything from caves to areas that were home to pups and adults, which the researchers said was most likely evidence of a maternity colony.
"They said this is a disaster waiting to destroy a whole area," said Jack Buchan, one of the founders of Sensible Wind Solutions. His group was one of three that brought the wind project to the attention of federal authorities.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine has said he wants the state to generate 1,000 megawatts of energy from wind power by 2012, enough to power about 300,000 homes. But energy projects of every kind have the potential to impact wildlife in some way.
"Every time you turn on the light switch, you're losing wildlife," said Eric Stiles, vice president of conservation for the New Jersey Audubon Society. "The question is just how many."
Stiles said the same could be said of coal mining or solar panels. Coal mining can eliminate a bat's natural habitat, while photovoltaic cells used for solar power create hazardous waste once they are used up.
The blades of a turbine do not just cause problems for bats on land, either. Stiles said bats follow New Jersey's coastline just like migratory birds do, and may fly as far out as 16 miles from Atlantic City's coast, where three different offshore wind farms have been proposed.
Stiles said New Jersey's Audubon Society has asked the state Department of Environmental Protection to keep a close eye on the potential hazards to a species already affected by a misunderstood and devastating disease.
E-mail Ben Leach:
Posted in Atlantic on Friday, May 15, 2009 3:15 am
No comments have been posted. Be the first poster!
Click here to report a comment as abusive.