The number of wind power plants is growing
very fast in Japan. There were 105 windmills
across Japan in 1998 generating 35,500kw
of electricity, but the number soared to
735 in 2003 generating 680,000kw. As the
government is planning to generate 3,000,000kw
by wind by 2010 the construction of windmills
is thriving. However, in 2004 several White-tailed
Eagles, which are designated special naturals
monument and are an endangered species, were
found dead near some wind farms in Hokkaido.
Given that they are believed to have died
from collision with the wind turbines, we
should assess whether wind power generation
is the best source of energy.
Windmills are clean with almost no toxic
waste produced. Unlike nuclear power plants,
which are potential sources of radioactive
contamination, they are not dangerous. Furthermore,
they release no carbon dioxide, which causes
global warming. In addition, they are more
environmentally friendly than hydropower
plants, which bring havoc to aquatic ecosystems.
Above all, wind is inexhaustible.
On the other hand, windmills have some defects
such as spoiling the landscape with their
bristling propellers set on long poles and
creating noise from the turning blades. Above
all, the most serious environmental drawback
to windmills is bird and bat strikes.
In the 1970s some US wind farms caused a
considerable number of bird deaths, raising
concerns about their impact on wildlife.
Gradually the death toll has increased with
the development of wind farm plants. Altamont
Pass Wind Resource Area in California, which
holds 5,000 windmills, causes an estimated
1,700 to 4,700 bird fatalities including
880 to 1,300 federally protected raptors
every year. For their part, bats seem to
be a lot more vulnerable to wind turbines
than birds. A survey of 44 turbines at West
Virginia's Mountaineer Project, one of the
largest wind-energy sites in eastern North
America, shows that an estimated 2,092 bats
of seven species had been killed every week
in 2003. The total number of bat fatalities
in the year was estimated to approach 4000.
The recent sharp increase in the number of
windmills in Japan is beginning to take its
toll on birds. Their impact on the Japanese
bat population is unknown because of insufficient
data, but urgent inquiries are necessary.
What is a matter of more concern is the largest
wind power plant ever in Japan is being built
at Cape Soya, which is the major migratory
route of birds from Siberia.
Although there is no perfect source of power,
windmill has many virtues and is one of the
most useful energy. With the extensive assessment
of their impact on wildlife, locations should
be carefully selected. It goes without saying
that engineering such as lighting up the
blades or emitting sounds that are annoying
to wildlife should be developed to minimize
the collision with wildlife. Every effort
should be made to save the lives of the little
avian Don Quixotes.