This week, hundreds of protesting individuals and groups, memberships numbering in the tens of thousands, took Dr. Paul Kerlinger and Associates, the lead “environmental” authority on the LEEDCo project, to task. Kerlinger’s claims that there would be no “significant biological damage” resulting from the 6-9 industrial wind turbine project, about 4-6 miles off the shores of Cleveland, provided a red flag for opponents of the project, who see that this ornithologist has long associated himself with the industry itself, providing testimony for developers from many parts US and Canada, as well as in China and Europe.
According to wildlife specialist and wind industry analyst, Jim Wiegand, “In essence Dr. Kerlinger and wind industry developers should be seen as one and the same because of their lengthy history of doing business together. Dr. Kerlinger has been paid very handsomely through this association from wind projects that have been approved across this country (i.e., taking consulting funds to promote wind projects, conducting mortality studies and affirming those impacts as “biologically insignificant” that ultimately become killing fields for birds and bats.”)
The open letter, addressed to Senator Bill Seitz, Governor John Kasich, the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB), the US Army Corp of Engineers, the DOE (Energy) and others, cited the many instances of Kerlinger’s faulty process, apparently manufactured assumptions, and blatant misrepresentations in his history as a paid consultant to the industry. One of the most astonishing, according to Wiegand and others is the assertion made in 2014 that there have been NO mass mortality incidents reported with birds and wind industry facilities. Recalling Virginia’s debacle of songbirds in 2003 during a foggy night of migration, and commenting on many more that must have happened in secrecy and silence, Wiegand asserts that it is this kind of testimony that seriously jeopardizes credibility and makes the LEEDCo environmental platform extremely shaky. (Mr. Wiegand believes, as do others, that thousands of eagles have been killed in Texas on private land over the last 25 years. The industry, which has long had the privilege of conducting its own mortality studies, has a lengthy history of inappropriate count areas, cover-ups, and getting USFWS and MNR (US Fish and Wildlife Services and Canada’s Ministry of Natural Resources) Permits to “take” endangered species.)
Ohio and beyond has stepped up to place a clear warning to Kerlinger and others associated with intent to place turbines in the bird and bat dense Lake Erie. Among the groups signing the letter are: Save the Eagles International (Spain), Great Lakes Wind Truth, US and Canada, Toronto Wind Action, which worked to achieve five moratoria for Ontario offshore projects, The Charter Boats Association of Lake Erie, Tom Marks Tom Mark, past president of the Southtowns Walleye Association of WNY, Inc., the largest Walleye club in North America and past President of the Lake Erie Chapter of Fly Fishers Federation, Northwestern PA Eagle Conservation Association, Wildlife Biologist Jim Wiegand, and Deputy Mayor of Leamington, Charlie Wright. Wright has fought wind turbines on the Ontario side, and noted that this project will be “an unmitigated disaster.”
“I have never heard of anything so entirely crazy as putting wind turbines in Lake Erie. You have heard me say I would lie across a road in front of trucks bringing them to the Western Basin of Lake Erie. I am saying now that a blatant environmental catastrophe is about to happen. Do not allow the LEEDCo project to proceed. “Incubator!” That means birthing more? You have to be kidding. Not One.” He adds, “I hope they don’t blow all that money. Because it will also be an enormous financial failure.”
More than a hundred more signatories and environmental groups added their endorsement of the letter in an addendum. The Hawk Migration Association of North America, HMANA, additionally wrote of concerns of the improper siting of the project in the well-known migration routes of the Lakes.
NOTE: One in five Americans—about 47 million people—are birdwatchers. They are huge revenue generators for the U.S. economy, spending over $40 billion on equipment and activities related to bird watching. Birding expenditures also created 666,000 jobs and $31 billion in employment income. About $6 billion in state tax revenue and $7 billion in federal tax revenue were derived from birding-related recreational spending (Chattanoogan.com, February 2014)Sherri Lange, CEO, NA-PAW (North American Platform Against Wind Power)Resources:
[url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/2014/2/27/270710/Birding-s-Biggest-Week-Announces.aspx]http://www.chattanoogan.com/2014/2/27/270710/Birding-s-Biggest-Week-Announces.aspx[/url]
[url=http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201110290070]http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201110290070[/url]
[url=http://torontowindaction.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/final-letter-4-for-OPSB-and-others-group-letter-with-refs-2-2.pdf]http://torontowindaction.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/final-letter-4-for-OPSB-and-others-group-letter-with-refs-2-2.pdf[/url]
