Extensive power expansion, anybody watching for impacts on birds

[SeEttaM]

I just found mapping by Excel of their 'Colorado Power Pathway' of new substations and  giant transmission lines that are proposed to cut through eastern Colorado including in or near some very important bird habitat including Chico Basin. Are any conservation groups or birding groups that concern themselves with protecting vital bird habitat monitoring this?  As the conservation chair for Arkansas  Valley Audubon Society I am now going to try to send comments on their incursions into areas that we service buy there is a lot of Eastern Colorado that will is north of our area that will be impacted by that this major expansion by Excel. Given all the negative impacts on the birds we all love to watch I hope many will take a look and intervene as needed to try to protect the birds we still have.   Here is the maps and basic info I have found: https://www.coloradospowerpathway.com/project-description/

SeEtta Moss 

Canon City 

[Rick Reeser]

Cobirders: In response to the post about Xcel expanding their power network, I have several responses:

1.       You can’t have your cake and eat it, too. You can’t be a consumer of significantly more electricity (in contrast to using fossil fuels for cars, furnace, etc.) without supporting the electrical supply chain. The electrical supply chain comes with some sacrifices, just like oil drilling comes with some negatives.

2.        If we harass the process of bringing in a greater supply of electricity, it comes with adding a significant cost to the end product.  Remember, Xcel has to pass onto us the economic costs of this $2 billion project. Do we want it more than that?

3.       Birds are far more adaptable than some people give them credit for.  It’s like when I fill my feeders. The birds leave for a short time, but they will be back where food can be found. Yes, construction is a short-term annoyance, but the long-term benefit makes it worth it. And, the actual loss of habitat is likely to be quite small.

4.       The addition of more power lines in remote areas that are not known for their tourism potential seems like a small sacrifice to pay for getting the electricity we need.  California has had numerous fires and power outages due to demanding too high of electrical consumption before having the infrastructure to support it. Some of their fires were started by aging electrical systems and their power outages- that were almost daily when I was there this past year- were quite disruptive. We need the electrical infrastructure to move forward to prevent these types of things from happening.

5.       Will these power stations and lines actually kill lots of birds or make them move permanently far away.  I doubt it. Our cars kill lots of birds, but we don’t propose eliminating cars because of that- we drive with greater caution instead.

 

We need to work with Xcel on this project to minimize the harm to the habitat, not work against them. Offering to work with someone is far more effective than working against them.

Rick Reeser

Milliken

[bbeat...@gmail.com]

I agree with the post below, but have a few things to add:

• I don’t know if they are, but Xcel should involve a biologist, or habitat conservationist, to help identify how to avoid important bird areas, migration staging areas, sources of water, etc.
• I don’t believe added cost should be looked at independently, it should also consider the impacts to birds and other wildlife, and Xcel should do what they can to avoid impacts
• Xcel should put bird diverters on the wires, to help minimize collision
• Working together is a great idea, if biologists, land conservationists and others are included in the discussions, and Xcel is open to finding slightly different routes
• Just FYI,  up to a billion birds are killed each year by colliding with windows, but as far as I know, no one has compiled the cumulative impacts on birds and other animals, i.e., from collision with transmission lines, concentrated solar power, wind turbines, cats, cars, pollutants, etc.  We should be concerned, and insert ourselves into Xcel’s planning.

Just my opinion

 

Brenda Beatty

Sedalia, CO

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[SeEttaM]

Wow, I had to reread what I wrote but I cannot fathom how it was misconstrued to include recommended that "...we harass the process of bringing in a greater supply of electricity...." and effectively costing taxpayers more money!  Really, this is I what I asked, "..I hope many will take a look and intervene as needed to try to protect the birds we still have. "

While I don't know what to think about that I do disagree with Mr. Reeser's statement, "Birds are more adaptable than some people give them credit for."  I'm not sure how many Colorado birders are aware of the very real of extinction of Lesser Prairie Chickens from southeast Colorado which has been identified as in part due to gas and oil activity: "The lesser prairie-chicken population, which once numbered in the hundreds of thousands, has dwindled across its historical range by an estimated 90%, “due largely to habitat loss and fragmentation,” USFWS said, with oil and gas activity contributing to the decline".  

Some of the issues with gas and oil activity that have caused the decline of these Lesser Prairie Chickens are similar to what expansion of electric utility lines would bring.  I don't consider the risk of expiration of this species to be a "small price to pay." 

I certainly hope that more level headed consideration be given to this issue.  I am a strong supporter of accountability and that I believe that utilizing companies need to be held accountable for their actions that might cause serious damage to vital bird habitat. And that will only happen when those of us who are serious about bird conservation intervene (fyi, before I get misconstrued again that does not imply that this project has to be stopped or that the company should be harassed.)

Just an addition piece of info, other interests such as the cultural advocates are intervening to avoid this project being harmful to their interests in Eastern Colorado.  

SeEtta Moss

Canon City 

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[Susan Rosine]

As a member of The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, plus a volunteer for them at their Barr Lake State Park banding station, I have just one thing to say:

BIRDS ARE NOT MORE ADAPTABLE THAN SOME PEOPLE GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR. 

Billions of birds have been lost because they are NOT adapting.

Susan Rosine

Brighton, Adams County

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[The Nunn Guy]

Hi all

I'll just add most of what we have lost in terms of bird populations are anthropogenic (human) in nature primarily habitat loss and degradation. Refresher stories about 3 billion birds lost:

• https://abcbirds.org/3-billion-birds/
  
• https://abcbirds.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Bird-Decline-paper_Science-formatted_final.pdf
  
• https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/bring-birds-back/
  
• https://www.audubon.org/news/north-america-has-lost-more-1-4-birds-last-50-years-new-study-says
  

Thanks, Gary Lefko, Nunn

http://www.friendsofthepawneegrassland.org/

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/birds-and-more-of-the-pawnee-national-grassland

[Michael T]

I think that the best way to serve the wildlife in our state is to not turn on each other and develop a respectful dialogue in order to better communicate with the utility about your concerns. 

I have spent many  years drafting conservation correspondence in regards to many such undertakings in our region and have found articulation of facts to be far more powerful than commentary fueled by raw emotion. Passion needs to be harnessed in a productive manner. Take the science and use it to your advantage.

Birds need our stewardship and sometimes added protections. Birds are very adaptive, but sometimes this requires time. We also need quality energy infrastructure to supply our burgeoning population in CO. The best way to achieve this through extensive monitoring of populations, effective regulations, wise development and a cooperative mindset.

Generally, the utilities are required to perform Environmental Impact Statements for new projects and that is where concerned entities and citizens have their opportunity to give their input.

That's my two cents.

Michael Tincher

Rehabilitation and Research Coordinator

Rocky Mountain Raptor Program

Fort Collins, CO

On Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 5:22:09 PM UTC-7 u5b2...@gmail.com wrote:

[Van Rudd]

Well said Rick. 

If we want to get off fossil fuels this is exactly the kind of project we need. We should make sure Xcel does this with as little impact as possible to sensitive prairie lands, but we definitely should not try and have it stopped. The impact of not doing this project will have a much worse impact on the birds we all love. 

Van Rudd

Louisville, CO

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 9, 2021, at 16:40, SeEttaM <see...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Cinnamon Bergeron]

Good morning to everyone,

I have read through all the emails in this chain and would like to point out a few things that many of you may not want to hear.  Please know that I am only wanting the best for the birds.

The XCEL electricity is still created by fossil fuels, or some type of energy that is bad for the birds.  Where do you think the electricity comes from?  It comes from a grid that is supplied by burning fossil fuels. Electricity is clean, but it is produced by burning coal, gas and oil mostly.  

Wind turbines are killing hundreds of thousands of birds every year, especially raptors because the wind turbines are placed in areas where the wind currents are the strongest.  Well, those same wind patterns are where the birds fly.  Plus, the wind turbines all come from China and only last about 20-30 years and then create huge graveyards full of this material that does not decompose.  It is terrible for the environment.

Electric cars are not necessarily good for the environment.  The electric batteries for electric vehicles are still hooking up to the grid that is supplied by burning fossil fuels.  The batteries for the electric cars are sometimes catching on fire.  One of my best friends is an engineer and has been working for many years for a company that is developing these electric batteries.  The batteries have to be stored and shipped in refrigerated trucks because if not they will catch fire. He says there is no way he would drive one of these vehicles. Not now, for sure. There is also no way to destroy these batteries and they also become an environmental hazard.

There are more things I can list, but I don't want to be too much of a downer.

I know we all want to do what is best for the environment, and especially for the birds.

I have watched many documentaries on both sides of the argument.  One that was especially informative was created by Michael Moore, who has been an environmentalist for 30+ years.  He went out to prove solar and wind energy was the way to go and was rudely awakened at the science and research.  His documentary is called "Planet of the Humans."  You can watch it on Youtube and other places online.  

It is important to be informed and know the pro's and con's of the different types of energy.

I hope I did not ruffle too many feathers,

Cinnamon Bergeron

Colorado Springs

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[Charles Hundertmark]

In SeEtta’s email that triggered this thread, she asked if any other birding group is monitoring Xcel’s Colorado Power Pathway. This to my mind is a very important question.It also raises two other pressing issues. First, while transition to renewal energy sources is an important step toward slowing global warming, the transition will not be without environmental costs. That is why Al Gore was so insightful when he called climate change “An Inconvenient Truth.” 

Second, while SeEtta plans to monitor impacts of portions of the pathway that fall in the territory of Aiken Audubon, this project covers an extensive territory, some of which may be in the territory of other bird clubs and some of which may be outside the reach of any Colorado bird club. There is currently no statewide Colorado bird conservation advocacy group comparable to Massachusetts Audubon that looks at statewide bird conservation issues.

This touches on a question that the Conservation Committee of Colorado Field Ornithologist (CFO) is looking at under its just formulated Conservation Plan. Is there a need for and interest in a statewide birding organization to coordinate the conservation efforts of local bird clubs or to offer advocacy on statewide issues affecting survival of bird populations? 

CFO is in the early stages of exploring what its role should be in bird conservation. Among other things, we are exploring whether there is an interest in such a statewide bird conservation coordinating forum. 

If you have responsibility for one of the Colorado Audubon chapters or other bird clubs and believe there is a need for statewide coordination on bird conservation issues, please send me a private email.

If you would like to help the CFO Conservation Committee as we define our niche in the Colorado bird conservation ecosystem, please send me a private email.

Chuck Hundertmark, Chair

Conservation Committee

Colorado Field Ornithologists

chunde...@gmail.com

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[The Nunn Guy]

Hi all

Makes you ponder a larger role of Audubon Rockies in Colorado?

Thanks, Gary Lefko, Nunn

http://www.friendsofthepawneegrassland.org/

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/birds-and-more-of-the-pawnee-national-grassland

[linda hodges]

Chuck, and all,

The Audubon Colorado Council (ACC) is made up of represenatives of the CO Audubon chapters, typically conservation chairs, and includes Audubon Rockies. We meet quarterly, but take on issues year-round. Having connections around the state has proved helpful in collaborating on statewide, or even regional, issues.

Chuck, I'll reach out to you personally to discuss how other orgs, such as CFO and DFO, might be part of the greater whole.

Linda

Linda Hodges

Aiken Audubon

Audubon Colorado Council

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