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Jay Lininger, ecologist for Center for Biological Diversity, on the issue of saving the prairie chicken or relocating wind turbines in Texas.
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The endangered species list but -- -- you -- can mean shutting down vital US wind farms and oil and gas drilling is it worth it.
So I CM the main problem is that these prairie chickens.
Are afraid of tall structures because that's where their enemy -- so they're terrified of the wind turbines.
In this is presenting a huge problem.
Well that's correct basically and so wind turbines and power lines that are associated with them can have a -- a footprint.
That the chickens avoid for up to a mile so there's a potential conflict there now lesser prairie chicken has had its habitat diminished by over 90%.
And so it's in real trouble unless we remember the land and remember the wildlife in our land use and economic development decisions we have an opportunity now.
With this pending listing under the Endangered Species Act.
Do you design a Smart wind energy grid and to place our oil and gas infrastructure.
Intelligently.
So that wildlife conservation and energy development can coexist.
Well do you talk oil and gas at a lot of the problem are these wind turbines and it sort of hits environmentalist against environmentalists because they say -- generating -- -- creates no missions he uses virtually no water.
That you avoid nearly nineteen million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually why -- why is the prairie chicken.
More important than either that or I mean they can be productive energy that is provided by oil and gas.
Well honestly I think the spin on conflict is overblown there are nineteen wind energy companies that are actively working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service today.
On -- habitat conservation plan.
That will do what I said to place wind energy infrastructure intelligently so that wildlife conservation does not conflict with their economic development -- So what do you know how would attack -- plan will ensure dad's -- participating companies will not be responsible for any additional regulatory burden.
-- -- -- Agency what does that mean what does that mean what does it cost anywhere at what's behind those words C wanna move it -- do what what would that cost and who's gonna pay for.
While the chickens only need this habitat strongholds amounting to postage stamps maybe 25000.
Acres a piece that's less then.
The footprint of the campus of Disney world in Florida.
In over a five state area we're talking about a very small amount of land it's not as -- wind turbines and power lines can not be placed in areas of high wind energy generation potential.
And drive the chicken extinct that you simply are not in conflict.
In the way that's.
I did I hear you -- you know what O'Costa movie existing around the power structures that you're talking about.
Well that's exactly the problem is that existing infrastructure is not going to be moved which is why the Endangered Species Act listing is so important so that.
Future installations are placed intelligently.
OK so -- sounds like we don't we don't know what it's gonna cost but we're gonna follow up on this story thanks for coming on very interesting.
Thank you.
Good stuff.
