Resident raises bat and aviation safety concerns about AES Clean Energy wind plans
Summary
During public input, a resident criticized AES Clean Energy's letter, warned of risks to bats and small aircraft from turbine vortices, and urged the board to rely on the county conservation board and Iowa DNR.
A public commenter who identified himself during remarks expressed strong opposition to language in a letter the board had received from AES Clean Energy and to the prospect of wind development. The resident argued the county's conservation board should lead on wildlife concerns and warned of aeronautical hazards, saying that vortices from turbine blades can invert small aircraft and harm bats and birds.
He told the board, "If I was gonna invent a machine that would kill bats, I'd I'd invent a windmill," and asked the supervisors to "stick with our own people right here in our own conservation board with their suggestions." The comment cited a concern that placing turbines in certain locations would risk local endangered bat species and referenced an aeronautical engineering explanation of vortices.
Board members heard the comment during the public-input period; no formal action was taken in response during the meeting.
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