Study: Hundreds of 'protected areas' threatened by renewable energy

wnd.com ^ | 6/14/2020 | WND staff

[rktman]

Hundreds of "protected areas," including some of the world's greatest wilderness resources, are being threatened by renewable energy projects, according to a new study.

The green projects are degrading 886 protected areas, 748 Key Biodiversity Areas and 40 distinct wilderness areas," according to the study, published online at ResearchGate.

Authored by Jose Andres Rehbein of the World Bank, and Joe Lane, James Watson and Laura Sonter of University of Queensland, the study explains: "Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy is fundamental for halting anthropogenic climate change. However, renewable energy facilities can be land‐use intensive and impact conservation areas, and little attention has been given to whether the aggregated effect of energy transitions poses a substantial threat to global biodiversity."

[rktman]

The gigantinc footprint of some of the earth savings facilities is absolutely disgusting. Coming back from SoCal using US 395(ish) to Reno after a fund raiser for a friend, we came upon a ginormous wind farm with wind turbines which seemed to go on for miles. Outside Palmdale IIRC. Probably half NOT turning. Too bad there is practically nothing that can be recycled. Then a solar farm with what seemed like miles of solar panels. Also disgusting. Sometimes you gotta destroy stuff to save other stuff.

[neverevergiveup]

IMHO, as someone who cares deeply about preservation of wildlife, open land, and habitats, I favor development of the safest nuclear energy we can, and research into how nuclear waste can best be dealt with. It’s the smallest footprint energy that we have, in lots of ways.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

"Energy density" is lousy for all renewables so they must consume huge swaths of our beautiful land.

Wind - 1.2 W/m2
Solar photovoltaic - 6.7 W/m2
Natural gas well (marginal well, 60,000 CF/D)- 28 W/m2
Oil well (10 BBL/D) - 27 W/m2
Nuclear power - 56 W/m2 (South Texas Project, including the entire 19 square-mile tract upon which the project is sited)

The two reactors at the South Texas Project produce 2,700 MW and covers about 19 square miles, slightly smaller than the island of Manhattan. To match that output using wind energy, you'd need a land area nearly the size of Rhode Island.

[caww]

Retired farmers in my home area are leasing acres and acres to gas and solar companies.....one farmer alone will make a quarter of a million yearly for use of his fields...

Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virgina combined as a country will be the 3rd largest producer of natural gas in the world.

most people are not going to turn down the money they can make for leasing their property..

[ssfromla]

These jerks can never get their S together.

Always and forever changing their attitudes for more money, more money, more money.

Who here doesn't think they'll need more to clean up those areas now?

Then of course more money to do additional brain dead ideas they come up with.

[PIF]

When asked about bird deaths,Jose Andres Rehbein replied, “There are lots of chickens, so what’s your problem?”

And bats Mr Rehbein, “The more insects the better for the future food supply.”

[MrChips]

I HAVE BEEN SAYING IT FOR YEARS: WHY CAN’T WE HARNESS THE POWER OF THE OCEANS? UNLIKE THE WIND, THEY ARE ALWAYS MOVING. WE USE WATER TO GENERATE HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER FROM DAMS. WHY NOT THE OCEAN?

[nikos1121]

Bloomington, Illinois to Springfield is littered with those wind turbines. No wind, absolutely no wind in the middle of summer and they’re still turning. I call BS on that.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Wave Power has been researched for over 100 years and hasn't been found practical or economical.

Some day people will wake up and find the same is true for large-scale wind and solar.

[MrChips]

But, according to your article, it has also been found to be promising. That’s a good thing.

[SkyDancer]