Tonopah Solar Plant Runs Test, Turns Hundreds Of Birds Into Cooked Dinner

It’s not the first time, and it certainly won’t be the last. And this was just a test (via Public Secrets through Watts Up With That?)

(Nature World News) It’s no secret that solar power is hot right now, with innovators and big name companies alike putting a great deal of time, money, and effort into improving these amazing sources of renewable energy. Still, the last thing you’d likely expect is for a new experimental array to literally light nearly 130 birds in mid-flight on fire.

And yet, that’s exactly what happened near Tonopah, Nevada last month during tests of the 110-megawatt Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project.”

“According to Rudy Evenson, Deputy Chief of Communications for Nevada Bureau of Land Management (NBLM) in Reno, as reported by Re Wire, a third of the newly constructed plant was put into action on the morning of Jan. 14, redirecting concentrated solar energy to a point 1,200 feet above the ground.”

“Unfortunately, about two hours into the test, engineers and biologists on site started noticing “streamers” – trails of smoke and steam caused by birds flying directly into the field of solar radiation. What moisture was on them instantly vaporized, and some instantly burst into flames – at least, until they began to frantically flap away. An estimated 130 birds were injured or killed during the test.”

“Officials behind the project have refuted that claim, saying that most of the streamers are floating trash or wayward insects, but federal wildlife officials have begun calling these ‘eco-friendly’ power towers “mega traps” for wildlife.”

This was just a test. Imagine the death toll during full operation. Of course, Warmists will surely find unique and interesting ways to defend the environmental destruction and death toll, just as they do with all their other favored new-fangled energy sources. And, deflections, distractions, and strawmen.

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19 Responses to “Tonopah Solar Plant Runs Test, Turns Hundreds Of Birds Into Cooked Dinner”

  1. Kevin says:

    Meh. We all have our different positions on this, but the bottom line is humans need energy. The only thing that matters to me is ‘Is it cost effective?” I don’t really care if it costs 130 birds. Hell, we boil or roast 5 or 6 birds a month in our house. And we go through 6 bird babies (aka eggs) almost every morning.

    Don’t go all PETA on us Mr. Teach. I very much look forward to the day when solar power is as cost effective as oil. We’re not close yet, but don’t poo poo them for trying.

    That said, don’t give them subsidies either. IT will be a frickin’ gold mine when it’s accomplished. That should be enough of a driving force to move it forward.

  2. gitarcarver says:

    I disagree to an extent Kevin. You can’t try to make or harvest new energy sources in the name of protecting and saving the environment while that new energy source directly kills part of the environment.

    If the birds were killed by an evil oil company or a nuclear plant, the cries from the left and others would be deafening.

    As it is, there are only crickets chirping.

  3. Jeffery says:

    Teach,

    Congrats for taking an interest in wildlife (although we understand that you really are just bashing solar power).

    If you’re really interested in saving birds check out these stats:

    http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v4/n1/full/ncomms2380.html

    “… estimate that free-ranging domestic cats kill 1.3–4.0 billion birds and 6.3–22.3 billion mammals annually (U.S.)”

    How many birds are killed each year by running into windows in buildings? The estimate is hundreds of millions in the US.

    Scientists (those folks that conservatives hate) warn that global warming will eliminate entire species.

    Finally, can you think of any engineering approaches that could reduce the birds killed by solar or wind?

  4. JGlanton says:

    I kill lots of birds by having birdfeeders. They are pretty to watch, interesting to observe, and nice to listen to. Several of them fly into the windows every morning, and some don’t survive. When there is plenty of bird activity at the feeder, a hawk is attracted and picks off the fat ones, especially the doves. And drives more birds into the windows. Once in a while my dog gets one and eats it whole.

    I like the birds.

  5. GOODSTUFF says:

    What moisture was on them instantly vaporized, and some instantly burst into flames – at least, until they began to frantically flap away.

    Why have we never seen a big pile of dead birds kill by solar plants and wind farms?

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  7. Jeffery says:

    If the birds were killed by an evil oil company or a nuclear plant, the cries from the left and others would be deafening.

    Of course, birds ARE killed by our reliance on fossil fuels.

    How many birds and other animals (including humans) are killed by the extraction, transport, refining and burning of fossil fuels? Is there disruption to ecosystems from oil spills, gas fumes, coal wastes, pipeline breaks, offshore platforms, smog, particulates…

    Global warming will eliminate entire species.

  8. Congrats for taking an interest in wildlife (although we understand that you really are just bashing solar power).

    I actually don’t feel a need to defend myself to you, but I actually care heavily about the environment, and support alternatives. I was for Cape Wind when Kennedy and Kerry were against it (but not because they were against it). I do not like the way these projects are being implemented. Not environment friendly, nor consumer friendly. Very much crony capitalism.

  9. jl says:

    “Free-ranging domestic cats kill……” Yes, but that’s nature. Domesticating cats no doubt cuts down on the feral cat population, as most are neutered. Either way, there would be ctats killing birds. And by the way, they also help keep the mouse population in check. “Global warming will eliminate entire species,” he says with absolutely no proof.

  10. Kevin says:

    Everything you say is true, Gitcarver. I’m just no longer sure it’s worth the effort to prove an environmentalist is a hypocrite. Or a far left person. They must be well aware of how hypocritical they are by now. But it hasn’t gotten us anywhere. I think it’s probably best to just move the world forward while ignoring them.

    I mean, within reason. When they try to create laws that harm people (like anti-CO2 laws or laws that make precious energy more expensive, for example), then we have to fight those laws.

    This just doesn’t seem like one of those times. Let them kill the birds, I say. If they can figure out how to make electricity for ~4cents a killowatt/hr, I’ll even donate the birds :).

  11. Kevin says:

    And I’m with jl on this one. We should all eat more cats. Wait, did I read that comment wrong?

    hehe j/k jl 🙂

  12. Dana says:

    Colonel Sanders was unavailable for comment.

  13. girtarcarver says:

    Kevin,

    I am not resting on the hypocrisy of the left. I disagree that they see their hypocrisy and as evidence offer up john and Jeffery,

    I look at it this way as well……. if there was any other project being pushed by any other company and the number of birds or wildlife killed was that many, the government would step in like a shot and shut the business down. That number of deaths is against the law. Period. These focused arrays to collect solar power are known to cause problems yet the Feds won’t step in. They will step in without evidence and shut down a dam or claim oysters on private property belong to them, but these pet projects of people? Nah. Spend the money. Kill the wildlife. Nothing to see here.

    Move along.

  14. Jeffery says:

    if there was any other project being pushed by any other company and the number of birds or wildlife killed was that many, the government would step in like a shot and shut the business down

    Bullshit. Prove it.

    Remember the Deepwater Horizon? It was in all the papers. 11 humans killed, millions of marine animals killed, an ecosystem destroyed, a local economy destroyed. BP is still in business as is Transocean.

  15. Kevin says:

    Yes. No one at all complained about British Petroleum. They hardly even made the newsreel.

    For the record though, they were just men. They couldn’t and didn’t destroy the ecosystem down here. It’s vibrant as hell. You could go on a red snapper or marlin excursion tomorrow if you don’t mind a chill in the air.

  16. Jeffery says:

    No one at all complained about British Petroleum.

    Oh, did the families of dead men, and people who appreciate clean water say bad things about BP? Poor BP.

    Another commenter claimed that if any other company killed 130 birds that: the government would step in like a shot and shut the business down

    BP was not shut down.

  17. Jeffery says:

    BP was not shut down.

    The damages in the Gulf will reach several 10s of BILLIONS of dollars. Damage to the seafood industry, human health, tourism industry, employment, and government expenses (healthcare, unemployment payments, NOAA, EPA, NIOSH studies and cleanups) keep adding up.

    Should the American taxpayers pay this debt, approaching $100 BILLION or should BP and its insurers pay?

    Did you read today that the BP CEO got a 25% pay raise last year? He made $12.7 million. They’re paying him millions more and the folks (and the ecosystem) in the Gulf are left begging. Claiming they’re worried about court cases, in January BP announced a salary freeze for its 84,000 employees who actually work for a living. Typical corporate welfare – take care of the execs first. Freeze the pay and lay off actual workers.

    Another commenter said that if any other company killed 130 birds, the US government would shut them down. BP killed 11 humans and millions of birds, fish, shellfish, dolphins and caused billions of dollars of damages, and their CEO got a $2 million raise.

    Poor BP. Those mean people should stop criticizing them.

  18. Kevin says:

    It looks as if you’ve misunderstood our discussion on the hypocrisy and its media, Jeffrey. Do not worry though. Your mistake will not be reported. You are a liberal!

  19. Irony says:

    […] Test run of solar plant cooks wildlife. […]

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