Wind Watch: September 2025

Seawater intake and discharge for offshore substation cooling: Sunrise Wind Project #MA #RI

Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Sunrise Wind Project: Volume 1 (
https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/sunrise-wind-final-environmental-impact-statement-feis-commercial) Operation of the OCS-DC [offshore converter station] would require the continuous withdrawal and discharge of non-contact cooling water. The daily DIF [design intake flow] for the OCS-DC would be 8.1 mgd [million gallons per day], and the daily average intake flow would range from 4.0 to 5.3 mgd. The maximum daily average discharge temperature would be 90°F, and the daily average discharge temperature would be 86°F. The vertical . . .

https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/seawater-intake-and-discharge-for-offshore-substation-cooling-sunrise-wind-project/

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“It’s well past time to stop considering what wind might do and to examine what it has done. It has not reduced fossil fuel use or emissions. It has only ruined a lot of landscapes and communities, fragmented habitat, and killed birds and bats.” —Eric Rosenbloom, Vt.

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=148

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth.” —John 3:8

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=71

Seawater intake and discharge for offshore substation cooling: Sunrise Wind Project #MA #RI

Female Crabs Are Sensitive to Environmentally Relevant Electromagnetic Fields from Submarine Power Cables

Abstract: The expansion of offshore wind and marine renewable energy devices (MREDs) is increasing anthropogenic electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from submarine power cables (SPCs). SPC-generated EMFs can exceed 2700 μT, well above the geomagnetic field, and may affect benthic animal behavior. In decapod crustaceans, sex-specific habitat uses and seasonal migrations are well-documented, yet their role in EMF sensitivity remains untested. We exposed juvenile shore crabs (Carcinus maenas) (n = 120; 1:1 sex ratio) to EMFs of 500, 1000, and 3200 μT using . . .

https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/female-crabs-are-sensitive-to-environmentally-relevant-electromagnetic-fields-from-submarine-power-cables/

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“When I first saw the so-out-of-place wind turbines and their Vegas-style strobe lights on the once quiet and majestic ridges of my eastern Oregon childhood home, I cried.” —Lynne Stone, Oregon

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=103

Migratory Strategy Is a Key Factor Driving Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities in At-Risk North American Bats #CAN #USA

ABSTRACT: Animal migration remains poorly understood for many organisms, impeding understanding of movement dynamics and limiting conservation actions. We develop a framework that scales from movements of individuals to the dynamics of continental migration using data synthesis of endogenous markers, which we apply to three North American bat species with unexplained high rates of fatalities at wind energy facilities. The two species experiencing the highest fatality rates exhibit a “pell-mell” migration strategy in which individuals move from summer habitats in . . .

https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/migratory-strategy-is-a-key-factor-driving-interactions-at-wind-energy-facilities-in-at-risk-north-american-bats/

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“Mike, we are a green energy company, but the green stands for money.” —Jeffrey Skilling, President, Enron (to reassure one of Enron’s coal executives)

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=87

Female Crabs Are Sensitive to Environmentally Relevant Electromagnetic Fields from Submarine Power Cables

Impacts of onshore wind energy production on biodiversity

Abstract: Wind is increasingly used as a renewable source of energy worldwide. However, harvesting wind energy can have negative consequences for biodiversity. In this Review, we summarize the growth of onshore wind power, its impacts on species and ecosystems, and how those impacts are assessed and mitigated. Across the construction, operation and decommissioning stages, wind facilities are associated with wildlife fatality and behavioural change as well as alteration, loss and fragmentation of terrestrial and aerial habitat. These negative consequences can . . .

https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/impacts-of-onshore-wind-energy-production-on-biodiversity/

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“And all over the countryside, he knew, on every crest and hill, where once the hedges had interlaced, and cottages, churches, inns, and farmhouses had nestled among their trees, wind wheels ... like vast advertisements, gaunt and distinctive symbols of the new age, cast their whirling shadows and stored incessantly the energy that flowed away incessantly through all the arteries of the city. ... The great circular shapes of complaining wind-wheels blotted out the heavens ...” —H.G. Wells, “A Story of the Days To Come” (1897)

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=85

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“It’s not a question of doing the best thing for the environment — the best thing for the environment is for people to stop using vast amounts of energy.” —Mike Hulme, Windfarm Wars, BBC2

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=59

The Book of Bogs #ENG

Although 80 per cent of Britain’s bogs and peatlands have been drained, stripped or irreversibly damaged over the last 200 years, they still contain more carbon than all the forests in UK, France and Germany combined. Often viewed as wasteland, these landscapes are brimming with biodiversity and play an essential role in how we mitigate the extremes of climate change. Walshaw Moor in West Yorkshire is one such place. Renowned for its blanket peat bog, Walshaw Moor is a breeding . . .

https://www.wind-watch.org/alerts/2025/09/24/the-book-of-bogs/

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“... a very expensive way to generate quite unreliable electricity.” —Tom Adams, Globe and Mail (Canada), December 27, 2007

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=132

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“The first glimpse of the (Weymart, Pa., Wind Farm) turbines from State Route 6 presents a surreal image like something from a Road Warrior movie.” —Tom Vanesky

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=223

Infrasound Near Wind Turbines: Preliminary Measurements and Research Agenda

As part of an ongoing research project, we conducted preliminary infrasound measurements at several Swedish wind farms. The objective was to evaluate variations in the infrasound signal between wind turbine operational and shutdown modes and to identify differences between infrasound levels measured near wind farms and at reference locations unaffected by wind turbine emissions. This article summarises early observations, outlines the analytical approach, and presents a research agenda for future work. The context for this research is the ongoing energy . . .

https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/infrasound-near-wind-turbines-preliminary-measurements-and-research-agenda/

Infrasound microphone network to monitor wind farm emissions #SWE

Abstract: Infrasound measurements have evolved from simply identifying sources to analyzing key parameters such as intensity, frequency content, and propagation characteristics in various environments. This study focuses on infrasound emissions generated by wind turbines and presents measurements from three wind farms using a synchronized network of four infrasound microphones. The methodology enables detailed analysis of spatial and temporal variations in infrasound propagation under different operational conditions. Our findings highlight the prominent frequency range of 2–10 Hz, where turbine-generated infrasound is most . . .

https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/infrasound-microphone-network-to-monitor-wind-farm-emissions/

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“Tous nos paysages français (campagnes, montagnes, bords de mers) sont menacés pour quelques % d’électricité, une diminution ridicule de 0,6% des émissions françaises de CO₂, et surtout l’outrageux enrichissement de quelques promoteurs éoliens. (All of our French landscapes — fields, mountains, shores — are targeted for a certain percent of electricity, a ridiculous 0.6% reduction of French CO₂ emissions, and especially the outrageous enrichment of several wind energy promoters.)” —Collectif 6 Octobre

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=149

Wind Farms and Power Lines: A Dual Threat to Seabirds in Brazil #BRA

Abstract: Bird collisions with power lines are a global conservation issue. This study examined the effects of wind farm construction and operation on seabird collisions with power lines in Galinhos, Northeastern Brazil. The research focused on a coastal area with 2.8 km of power lines across two beaches. Data on bird collisions, particularly involving Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) and Common Terns (Sterna hirundo), were collected from January 2010 to May 2020. The study aimed to assess collision impacts and the influence . . .

https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/wind-farms-and-power-lines-a-dual-threat-to-seabirds-in-brazil/

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“Before declaring itself bankrupt on 15 September, US investment bank Lehman Brothers was one of several major firms that invested in wind projects in exchange for the tax credit, which they used to reduce their federal tax bill.” —Nature, October 1, 2008

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=125

Rules of thumb when faced with a wind farm next door

1. Seek legal advice It is important to seek experienced, independent legal advice. To retain your legal rights – DON’T sign anything. 2. Record keeping Record keeping is important. Get baseline information: views/noise/soil – before and after wind farm. Be polite and assertive when engaging with the wind farm. Keep a file on all communications and correspondence. Save emails, letters, photos, videos and community information to a backup external hard drive. 3. Objective evidence If relevant, engage a consultant to . . .

https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/rules-of-thumb-when-faced-with-a-wind-farm-next-door/

Fundamental basis for all living creatures, mechanotransduction, is significantly endangered by periodic exposure to impulsive infrasound and vibration from technical emitters—in particular cardiovascular and embryological functions

Abstract: Mechanotransduction is the common basis for all organisms for converting physical forces into biochemical and biological information. Ongoing PIEZO channel research confirms PIEZ0-I and II channels in numerous other tissues including outside the endothelium. The prerequisite for a inflammatory transformation of the endothelium is chronic oxidative and oscillatory stress, as vital regulatory processes depend on an uninterrupted laminar flow in the capillary system and the integrity of the endothelium. Vascular health, in turn, is closely linked to demand-driven NO . . .

https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/fundamental-basis-for-all-living-creatures-mechanotransduction-is-significantly-endangered-by-periodic-exposure-to-impulsive-infrasound-and-vibration-from-technical-emitters-in-particular-ca/

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“As the share of the energy mix provided by renewables has risen, electricity prices have tended to increase. That’s because wind and solar power are intermittent. Since storing energy in batteries is uneconomic, traditional sources of power are still needed as backup.” —Edward Chancellor, Reuters, February 28, 2025

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=145

Wind Farms and Power Lines: A Dual Threat to Seabirds in Brazil #BRA

Energies renouvelables : entre pression fiscale et précarité #FRA

[Renewable energies: between tax pressure and precariousness] La fiscalité énergétique Dans les pays de l’OCDE, le ratio impôts/PIB s’échelonnait en 2023 de 17.7 % au Mexique à 43.8 % en France. La répartition sociale permet cependant à 54,1% (en 2022) des foyers fiscaux français d’être dispensés du prélèvement obligatoire de l’impôt sur le revenu. Mais pour autant, le financement du gouffre sans fond de la transition énergétique fait injustement porter le plus gros effort sur les plus pauvres, et tout particulièrement sur . . .

https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/energies-renouvelables-entre-pression-fiscale-et-precarite/

Unpacking local energy conflicts: Drivers, narratives, and dynamics of right-wing populism and local resistance to energy transitions in Germany #DEU

Highlights Examines links between local resistance to renewables and right-wing populism via seven German case studies. Resistance often reflects governance, procedural and distributive justice concerns more than direct populist alignment. Populist narratives often emerge locally, reflecting frustrations with opaque planning and perceived injustices. Conflict intensity varies; rural areas resist more due to strong landscape and community attachments. Transparent, participatory planning can address grievances and limit populist rhetoric in energy debates. Abstract This paper examines the role of populist narratives in . . .

https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/unpacking-local-energy-conflicts-drivers-narratives-and-dynamics-of-right-wing-populism-and-local-resistance-to-energy-transitions-in-germany/

(pic) Clarke Creek wind energy facility, stage 1

This is terrestrial and aerial habitat destruction for the 100-wind turbine Clarke Creek wind farm. This is Stage 1 only. Stage 2 consists of another 94 turbines pushing northwards eventually joining Lotus Creek wind farm with 46 wind towers on the far far horizon line. - Photo by Steven Nowakowski - by courtesy of Rainforest Reserves Australia

https://www.wind-watch.org/pix/displayimage.php?pid=1045

Red kite (Milvus milvus) collision risk is higher at wind turbines with larger rotors and lower clearance, evidenced by GPS tracking

Abstract: Wind turbines are important for achieving renewable energy goals, but present a considerable threat to wildlife, especially birds and bats. This study reports 41 confirmed collisions of GPS-tracked Red Kites (Milvus milvus) with wind turbines across Europe (2017–2024). We compared environmental and turbine-specific factors during collisions and non-collision movements within 500 m of turbines. Collisions occurred year-round, with the highest mean number of collisions per day during spring and autumn migration. Rotor clearance and diameter were significant predictors of . . .

https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/red-kite-milvus-milvus-collision-risk-is-higher-at-wind-turbines-with-larger-rotors-and-lower-clearance-evidenced-by-gps-tracking/

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“They are ugly!” —T. Boone Pickens, The Guardian (U.K.), Apr. 14, 2008

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=141

Red kite (Milvus milvus) collision risk is higher at wind turbines with larger rotors and lower clearance, evidenced by GPS tracking

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“The distinction between wind and wind energy is critical. The wind itself is free, but wind energy is anything but.” —Drew Thornley, “Texas Wind Energy: Past, Present, and Future”

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=175

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“There should be a presumption against wind farms in the countryside where their scale, siting or cumulative effect would have a significant adverse impact on landscape quality and recreational enjoyment thereof.” —Countryside Commission, U.K.

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=225

Migratory Strategy Is a Key Factor Driving Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities in At-Risk North American Bats #CAN #USA

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“What the wind giveth, line loss taketh away.” —Carol A. Overland, Minn.

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=160

Impacts of onshore wind energy production on biodiversity

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“Quelque chose qui vous fournit 1 MW n’est pas comparable à quelque chose qui vous fournit par moments 2 MW et à d’autres moments 0 MW. (Something that provides you with 1 MW [steadily] is quite different from something that provides you with 2 MW sometimes and 0 MW at other times.)” —Francois-Marie Breon, Atlantico, March 14, 2023

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=53

Migratory Strategy Is a Key Factor Driving Interactions at Wind Energy Facilities in At-Risk North American Bats #CAN #USA

Impacts of onshore wind energy production on biodiversity

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“We couldn’t believe that anybody would put something up that could make such a noise, that they would be allowed to do that.” —Jane Davis, Windfarm Wars, BBC2

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=143

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“Franchement, quand je survole certains pays européens [les éoliennes] ne donne pas envie. (Frankly, when I fly over some European countries, their turbines don’t fill me with envy.)” —Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France, Oct. 25, 2007

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=107

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“In short, wind represents yet another extraction industry seeking to exploit people and natural resources while delivering no meaningful product or service, relying upon unsubstantiated claims, an uninformed public and press, and the gullibility of those seeking easy solutions to complex problems. Many resent the pillage of our mountains, the destruction of wildlife, and the devaluation of property that will follow in the wake of this project.” —Jon Boone, testimony to Md. Public Service Commission

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=41

Infrasound Near Wind Turbines: Preliminary Measurements and Research Agenda

Infrasound microphone network to monitor wind farm emissions #SWE

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“This will divide the town for 25 years.” —Jack Simons, planning commissioner, Sheffield, Vt.

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=246

Offshore wind energy: assessing trace element inputs and the risks for co-location of aquaculture #GBR

Abstract: Co-locating aquaculture with Offshore Wind Farms (OWFs) is a novel global energy sustainability policy driver. However, trace elements (TEs) from turbine corrosion-protection systems could generate significant ecosystem, economic, and human health risks. We calculate annual inputs for current European OWF capacity (30 GW) as: 3219 t aluminium, 1148 t zinc and 1.9 t indium, but these will increase ~12× by 2050, eclipsing known discharges. However, a paucity of industry data makes it impossible to compare water and sediment TE concentrations at operational OWFs . . .

https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/offshore-wind-energy-assessing-trace-element-inputs-and-the-risks-for-co-location-of-aquaculture/

The potential of offshore wind farms to spread marine alien species #NOR

Abstract: Alien species are organisms introduced to new areas through human activities that have been associated with artificial structures in coastal zones. Offshore wind farms (OWFs), rapidly expanding across marine environments, provide novel artificial surfaces that may facilitate the establishment and spread of alien species in regions lacking natural habitats. In the southern North Sea, offshore energy structures already support such species, with similar patterns observed globally. Despite international and national policies calling for better understanding of alien marine species, . . .

https://www.wind-watch.org/documents/the-potential-of-offshore-wind-farms-to-spread-marine-alien-species/

Rules of thumb when faced with a wind farm next door

Fundamental basis for all living creatures, mechanotransduction, is significantly endangered by periodic exposure to impulsive infrasound and vibration from technical emitters—in particular cardiovascular and embryological functions

Infrasound Near Wind Turbines: Preliminary Measurements and Research Agenda

Infrasound microphone network to monitor wind farm emissions #SWE

Industrial Wind Energy Quote

“After ten years of operation the federal production tax credit goes away. One Kansas wind farm has reached this point and we are seeing the effect — lower production — fewer turbines operating — more turbines in disrepair.” —Forrest Knox, Kansas Senate, June 16, 2014

https://www.wind-watch.org/quotes.php?t=119