Help needed at Mifflin.

http://dailycaller.com/2013/07/23/st...wind-turbines/

Convenient how the liberally controlled federal governments "errors" always seem to go in favor of what they are pushing (global warming, climate change, etc) until their research gets called out as bull****. Then it gets corrected, reluctantly. Here is another great example.

http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-...ats-every-year

http://trib.com/business/energy/fed-...b3ea3670b.html

....and my personal favorite...WIND ENERGY GETS AWAY WITH MURDER! http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamescon...y-with-murder/

On Wednesday, October 9, 2013 5:56:57 PM UTC-7, wrote:
Eric, I shared your post with my pet canary, and he was quite offended at the implication that small non predator avian species would be considered inferior. I must admit he has a point. I personally think crows are the most intelligent North American bird. You wont see them flying into a whirling blade. I have absolutely no data to support my position in this matter.

DLB

yes, but before going to far on the side of crows I must share this:

Researchers for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority found
over 200 dead crows near greater Boston recently, and there
was concern that they may have died from Avian Flu. A Bird
Pathologist examined the remains of all the crows, and, to
everyone's relief, confirmed the problem was definitely NOT
Avian Flu. The cause of death appeared to be vehicular impacts.

However, during the detailed analysis it was noted that varying
colors of paints appeared on the bird's beaks and claws. By
analyzing these paint residues it was determined that 98% of the
crows had been killed by impact with trucks, while only 2% were
killed by an impact with a car.

MTA then hired an Ornithological Behaviorist to determine if
there was a cause for the disproportionate percentages of truck
kills versus car kills.

The Ornithological Behaviorist very quickly concluded the cause:
when crows eat road kill, they always have a look-out crow in a
nearby tree to warn of impending danger. They discovered that
while all the lookout crows could shout "Cah", not a single one
could shout "Truck."

Brad

I have been involved with wind turbine engineering for the last ten years. I believe we need wind generation, and other renewables, in the generation portfolio. However, Jack's Mountain and the attached ridge is a unique soaring treasure, and I fully support efforts to have this project, as well as others on critical soaring ridges, to be rejected. There are good places and bad places for wind turbines; this is a BAD place.

However, the soaring interests will have a greater chance for success if we don't flail irrelevant or poorly substantiated arguments. One of these distracting and irrelevant arguments is the fact that wind turbines "suck" power from the grid when the wind speed is below, or above, the operating range. The amount of energy consumed for standby auxiliary power is trivial; yaw motors do rotate the nacelle into the wind, and lube oil heaters keep the lube oil from turning solid in the winter. And, where do you think the power comes from to light the aviation warning lights? Should we eliminate those? Plus EVERY power plant sucks power from the grid when it is not generating, and many fossil-fueled plants operate much less frequently than wind plants, and consume far greater auxiliary power.

Bird kills from wind plants are a fact, but as previously posted, cars and building windows kill far more. However, the ridge lift that attracts us also attracts soaring birds, and I believe that focusing on the unique risks to birds of this location on Jack's Ridge will do us far more good than striking out on wind turbines everywhere.

We should focus on the unique soaring treasure that this mountain and the ridge provides, and the economic benefits of our time and expenditures in the region Let the locals fight the visual impact, sound, and other similar issues. Let the bird and bat people handle their own turf, they have much better info than we do, and PLEASE, don't throw out b.s. that is totally irrelevant that discredits the soaring community. Also, let's not get into the middle of the global warming fight...

All good points in this last post.
I just read Karl's website and he states:
"A number of ridges populate the area between the Tunnels and Clark’s Ferry TPs. On days with northwest winds these ridge can be used for short runs and saves, but don’t offer sustained runs of any length. A good percentage of the Waggoners Gap to Tunnels section passes over Tuscarora State Forest with most of the valleys totally covered in forest-not the realm of a safety conscious pilot. "

Perhaps we should be united in asking that the location be moved to another ridge nearby that pilots do not use much. There are many, many ridges in this area. Karl should pick a likely area and we should all stand behind his choice in our letters.

agree ... argue to put them on the ridge next to Harrisburg ... on Blue Mountain ... easier hookup to the grid, as well.

kk

I have also been in the wind generator biz. I can't add more or better responses than Soartech and 37. Please reread what they said and pretend it's from me.

Please keep the partisan politics off. Right or Left, it doesn't contribute to a solution.

As to the suggestion that we back and alternate ridge...I'm in. Excellent suggestion.


Terry

For comic relief... gif of an exploding wind turbine.
http://img.ifcdn.com/images/2e936036...b74f5854_1.gif

On Sunday, October 6, 2013 11:01:33 AM UTC-4, KS wrote:
Two companies are planning the installation of wind turbines on top of Jacks Mt near the Mifflin County Airport where contests have been held for 23 years. Ridge running on Jacks is vital to the success of soaring at Mifflin and these devices would eliminate an essential part of the soaring activity.

See http://mifflin.ridgesewing.com/Jacks.htm for a further link to information which will show a picture of what the wind farm would look like and a request for letters/e-mails to help thwart this project.



Thanks for your help.



Karl Striedieck



PS Send this on to those who might not follow ras but could help.

Raptor mortality due to windmills is not an issue with the type of wind turbine structure currently used - cylindrical towers. Out west at places like Tehachipi the situation is different due to the lattice type towers used. There, with very few perching places, the hawks and eagles use the towers to scan for prey, and then get clobbered as they dive off.

Bat mortality is a different story, as many have been killed by wind turbines here in the East. I talked to a bat expert who consults with wind energy companies and he said the companies he's worked with have altered their operations to lessen bat mortality. These measures include shutting down the turbines at night when the wind speed is less than 15 mph in the summer. They don't miss much generation potential as a result.

A stronger case for opposing the Jacks wind farm proposals by Volkswind and Eon is protection of endangered species and water resources. Don't laugh but there are some difficult DEP hoops to jump through concerning the timber rattle snake and Allegheny wood rat.

And the sharp peak and steep drop offs where the turbines would be placed call for extensive mountain top removal and all the implies for water resources (and esthetics) for the residents in the valley.

Strict environmental zoning by the townships that would be impacted is important to the effort to keep Jacks Mt useable for soaring, and that is the thrust of the current appeal for letters/e-mails to the two townships.

Pa. has hundreds of windmills on the Allegheny Plateau and that is good place to put them. There is room and wind for thousands more.

Personally, we support green energy by being 100% self sufficient through a grid-connected PV system and pond-based geo thermal. But there are situations where the geology, esthetics and environmental conditions argue against an industrial scale wind farm. Jacks Mt is such a place.

Thanks for those letters and e-mails.

Karl Striedieck and past and future ridge runners.

Couldn't one argue that this will ruin the Amish simplicity of life? Can you get. Enough Amish against this?

Tim

Karl, as a long-time WSJ reader, can you comment on Friday's editorial on windmills killing raptors ?