NEW ENERGY FIGHTS MAPPED

Maps That Draw a Line on Energy Projects
Matthew L. Wald, April 1, 2009 (NY Times)

"…the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Audubon Society…on maps managed by Google, for 13 Western states covering about half the land mass of the continental United States…[told] companies that want to develop renewable-energy projects what locations were likely to provoke a fight. Although wind and solar projects do not add to air pollution or global warming, their equipment and the associated power lines can hurt endangered or threatened species, environmentalists say.

"…while the battle lines are quite literally available with a few mouse clicks, the intent is not entirely hostile…the issue is environmental balance, pitting prairie species like the greater sage-grouse against animals like the polar bear, which lives on ice that is melting because of global warming, some of it probably caused by coal-fired power plants that wind and sun could partly replace…"

The Google "fightin' zones" map. (click to enlarge)

"The wind industry publishes photos of cows grazing placidly around towers, and argues it is compatible with nature. But Brian A. Rutledge, executive director of the Audubon Society of Wyoming, said wildlife and domesticated species were different…Matthew McKinzie, of the N.R.D.C., said that his group had provided data on 173 species that were threatened or endangered, some of which had only a small habitat remaining. The list includes fish species.

"The maps, part of Google Earth, show wilderness areas, areas where roads are banned, national parks, wildlife refuges, areas under consideration for wilderness protection, and many areas that lack legal protection but are prime territory for vulnerable species.

"The effort by Google and the environmental groups comes soon after the Western Governors Association posted a draft map of “renewable energy zones,” and the new secretary of the interior, Ken Salazar, ordered that a federal task force be formed to increase use of public lands for production and transmission of renewable energy."

The Western Governors' Association map. (click to enlarge)

"At the American Wind Energy Association, Laurie Jodziewicz, a spokeswoman, said the wind industry was involved in the governors’ mapping effort. She predicted that the new Google Earth offering would also be useful, but said…it would take inspection of the sites to determine if there was really an environmental issue — just as it takes inspection and testing to see if there is a renewable energy resource…

"The environmentalists are focused on oil and gas development, too; they say they would like to see such developments around existing gas wells, coal strip mines that have been filled in and other rural areas that are already industrialized."