Readers brought up some questions and issues about wind turbines in response to our previous post on wind power, to which we'd like to respond. In particular, Hugh wrote:

"I am not from the bluffs in Toronto. But we do go there bird watching. We have seen a gradual decline in many species. In addition a record drop in number of insect and butterflies. We think that the David Suzuki foundation should not hastily endorse such projects that may end in disaster. Environmental assesment of wind turbines in other countries does not write a green check for building them on the most ancient migratory bird route in ontario. Myself and many of my friends who have both morally and finanically supported your organization are getting very dissapointed in how these decisions are being made at your organization. We hope you once again get in touch with the routes of our common struggle to protect the envinroment and the animals living in it. This is not about our view of the lake, this is about the bats, birds and all animals that inhabit it."

Thank you for your comments and concern for wildlife in the Scarborough Bluffs area.

The David Suzuki Foundation strongly supports renewable energy initiatives as part of the solution that will transition our society away from its reliance on fossil fuels and take a serious stand against global warming. Global warming is perhaps the most challenging problem facing our society, and it is already having alarming impacts on our ecosystems, our health and the health of our children. At the same time, the Foundation emphasizes that all projects based on renewable resources, including wind, be properly sited and subject to environmental assessment. Wind power is the fastest growing source of energy in the world, and its use in Canada, including the Bluffs, should be considered. 

While it is true that wind turbines can have a harmful effect on birds, this impact is less than 0.01% when compared to bird deaths caused by buildings, automobiles, pesticides and other domesticated animals. A study carried out by the U.S. Forest Service found that for every 10,000 birds killed by human activities including fatalities by collisions with manmade structures, less than one death is caused by a wind turbine. The study also found that housecats are estimated to kill 10.6% of birds in the US each year. This study, and many more studies on wind turbines, can be found here. As we move towards adopting renewable energy resources, we have the opportunity to ensure that wind projects in Canada are developed to the highest environmental standards. 

The National Audubon Society has also testified to the U.S. subcommittee on fisheries, wildlife and oceans, that it supports wind power as a clean alternative energy source that reduces the threat of global warming and that each wind project should be evaluated on its own merits. More on the National Audubon Society’s position on wind power can be found here. 

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. 

The meeting in Scarborough was only the first step towards the possibility of using offshore wind in that area to contribute to the electricity grid for all of Toronto. Toronto Hydro first needs to assess the strength of the wind in that particular area. In order to do so, the utility company would like to place device called an anemometer (about the size of a refrigerator) in the lake to measure these wind speeds for approximately two years. The meeting was part of the public consultation process required for this kind of project. This study will determine if there is enough wind in the lake to start looking into the possibility of wind turbines in that region. If the study finds that there is enough wind, then the question of an offshore wind farm would undergo a completely new process which would involve rigorous environmental assessments and a study of many other factors including costs, and would also entail a full public consultation process. 

Most importantly, global warming remains the most significant threat to birds and all life on the planet, including us. It is critical to take action now, as scientists have made it clear that by failing to act, we could lose one million species by 2050. The Foundation urges our governments to implement renewable energy sources such as solar and wind into our electricity grid. We are on the verge of a profound shift in the way we consume and produce energy. This shift will take the world away from the wasteful and ecologically-destructive consumption of fossil fuels, towards cleaner, more efficient forms of power.