I. Mortality Rates: Cumulative Estimates on the Impacts to Bat and Avian Species
As part of the Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement prepared for St. Lawrence Wind Power LLC, West Inc used cumulative averages of bat and bird mortality rates across five different wind farms in New York State. All five are local to the North Country and are within relatively close proximity to the St. Lawrence Wind Farm.
The estimates for the St. Lawrence Wind Farm’s 53 turbines are summarized below. We will first discuss the estimates for bats, followed by the estimates for avian species.
Bat Species
Bat Species
Estimates are based upon the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative (NWCC) 2004 National average of 3.4 bat fatalities per turbine per year (fatalities/turbine/year). The second estimates are based on the NWCC 2004 Eastern average, which is 46.3 bats/turbine/year.
Total fatalities for NWCC 2004 National average: 180 fatalities/turbine/year
Total fatalities for NWCC 2004 Eastern average: 2,454 fatalities/turbine/year
To gain a better idea, the post-construction observations of bat mortality rates at Maple Ridge Wind Farm were used to further estimation. The minimum was expressed as 15.2 bats/turbine/year, and the maximum as 24.5 bats/turbine/year. These numbers were gained by observing fatalities between June and November 2006.
Total fatalities for NWCC 2004 Eastern average: 2,454 fatalities/turbine/year
To gain a better idea, the post-construction observations of bat mortality rates at Maple Ridge Wind Farm were used to further estimation. The minimum was expressed as 15.2 bats/turbine/year, and the maximum as 24.5 bats/turbine/year. These numbers were gained by observing fatalities between June and November 2006.
Total fatalities using Wind Ridge Wind Farm observations: 806 – 1299 fatalities/turbine/year
Avian Species
The NWCC 2004 National estimates for avian fatalities were expressed as 2.3 birds/turbine/year. The NWCC 2004 Eastern estimates were expressed as 4.3 birds/turbine/year. Again, the Maple Ridge Wind Farm was used as a post-construction reference. Observations between June and November 2006 recorded between 3.1 to 9.6 birds/turbine/year.
Total fatalities for NWCC 2004 National average: 122 Total fatalities for NWCC 2004 Eastern average: 228
Total fatalities using Wind Ridge Farm observations: 164 – 509
References
Tetra Tech E.C. Inc. et al. (2009, March 25). Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed St. Lawrence Windpower Project. Retrieved from: http://stlawrencewind.com/SEIS/SectionsPDF/Tables/Table_4_3_EstimatedCumulative.pdf
Tetra Tech E.C. Inc. et al. (2009, March 25). Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed St. Lawrence Windpower Project. Retrieved from:
http://stlawrencewind.com/SEIS/SectionsPDF/Tables/Table_4_2_EstimatedCumulative.pdf
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