Wind power company convicted of killing over 150 eagles in the United States

    Wind power company convicted of killing over 150 eagles in the United States

    A company affiliated with one of the largest US suppliers of renewable energy was convicted of killing more than 150 eagles.

    He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

    ESI Energy, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, will have to shell out more eight million dollars in penalties and compensation for the eagles killed in three of its wind farms.





    In the last decade, in fact, at least 150 between golden eagles and bald eagles they would have died after being hit by the blades of wind turbines owned by the company.

    The company pleaded guilty during the trial and, in addition to the penalties, agreed to invest up to 27 million over the next five years in preventive measures, to avoid future deaths of eagles. Such measures include stopping turbine activity at times when eagles are most likely to be present in flight.

    As wildlife officials predict that some eagles could still die, the company was forced to pay 29.623 for every eagle that should lose its life in its wind farms, again for the next five years.

    Although neither golden nor bald eagles are on the United States' endangered species list, both the species are protected by law federal government on migratory birds that punishes those who kill or harm eagles and other birds.

    Companies in various sectors, from energy to manufacturing, have for several years exerted pressure against the application of the law for the accidental death of birds.

    Several companies have managed to avoid legal proceedings by demonstrating that they have taken appropriate measures to avoid deaths and by obtaining special permits for any accidental deaths.

    According to the documents presented during the trial, NexEtra was aware of the risks that the eagles would run but did not apply for the necessary permits, as it felt that the law did not require them for the involuntary death of birds.

    The company also built two new wind farms and upgraded an existing one while ignoring advice from federal wildlife officials on how minimize deaths of the eagles.



    As a result, NextEra was charged and prosecuted; the criminal case, suspended under the Trump administration, ended a few days ago with a plea agreement by the company.

    Bald eagle populations - a national symbol of the United States since the 1700s - have been decimated over the past century due to human activities. In addition to wind power, collisions with vehicles, lead poisoning, illegal shootings and pesticides have caused the death of numerous specimens.

    Read also: Lead poisoning nearly half of US bald eagles

    It is estimated that every year approx 2.200 eagles die from humans, a number equal to 60% of all deaths. In the future, deaths could increase precisely due to the development of wind energy, as well as other human activities.

    It is therefore important to do everything possible for protect these animals, especially in this historical moment in which there is a push to produce more energy from renewable sources to reduce emissions.



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    Sources of reference: AP

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