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mattie_p writes that this was originally submitted by cmn32480 via the forums.
"According to Fox News, environmentalists are concerned about the impact of the world's largest solar plant, which is located in the Mojave Desert, on the local bird population. The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (a solar thermal plant) covers nearly five square miles, has approximately 350,000 garage door sized computer controlled mirrors, and has temperatures near the boilers reaching 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant owners NRG Energy Inc., Google Inc., and BrightSource Energy say they have found dozens of dead birds in the complex in the last several months, some with burned or scorched feathers. The plant cost $2.2 Billion to construct, and had been held up in regulatory and wildlife relocation fighting for several years. It has officially been open since Thursday, February 13, 2014."
(Score: 5, Funny) by dmc on Monday February 17 2014, @10:03AM
I don't want to sound glib, but no doubt jet engines get quite a few birds, and highways get untold manner of critters as well.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by SockPuppet on Monday February 17 2014, @10:08AM
Hey, they test jet engines on how much poultry they can ingest; and I've got some experience running down the occasional stray bird. Whump.
(Score: 5, Informative) by combatserver on Monday February 17 2014, @10:13AM
"...and highways get untold manner of critters as well."
No kidding. Why isn't Fox News blathering about all the deer I see splattered on the roads near my house? Or oil covered birds you can find washed up on practically any beach on the Gulf Coast?
Sounds like "green-bashing" to me (dead birds, or no).
"Such utility-sized solar plants are beginning to appear across the US, with 232 under construction, in testing or granted permits, many in the south-west and California" (my emphasis)
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/21 /solar-power-farm-california-us-renewable-energy-w ildlife [theguardian.com]
With numbers like that, it's no wonder the carbon industry is going on a PR campaign.
I hope I can change this later...
(Score: 1) by CoolHand on Monday February 17 2014, @12:50PM
I agree!!
Let 'em fry! Compared to the number of other animals killed everyday for our survival or even comfort, this seems laughably miniscule...
Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job-Douglas Adams
(Score: 3, Insightful) by geb on Monday February 17 2014, @01:26PM
On the other hand, if there's some cheap and easy method for scaring the birds away, it isn't going to impact the efficiency of the plant and should be implemented.
It's not like a farmed field where there's food drawing birds in all the time. Any kind of scare should be effective.
(Score: 1) by CoolHand on Monday February 17 2014, @01:45PM
Well, I can agree with that...
Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job-Douglas Adams
(Score: 2, Informative) by wjwlsn on Monday February 17 2014, @04:27PM
I spent some time around a catfish farming operation in Mississippi once. Periodically, there would be a sharp gunshot-like sound, which apparently kept birds away from the ponds... minimizing catfish-feed losses. Perhaps something like this could be helpful at the solar plant?
I am a traveler of both time and space. Duh.
(Score: 1) by sjames on Sunday February 23 2014, @11:21PM
That or a recording of a hawk. Most birds run (well, fly) for cover when they hear that.
(Score: 1) by weeds on Monday February 17 2014, @04:44PM
Get money out of politics! [mayday.us]