Greed Energy…Endangered Black Stork Nest Blocking Wind Park Construction Gets Criminally Destroyed

Conservationist/wind-energy protest group Rettet den Odenwald (Save the Forest of Odes) here writes that yet another endangered stork nest was recently destroyed at the forested location near a proposed JuWi wind park.

Controversy swirls over German wind park builder JuWi

Normally the clearing of forest land to make way for industry is required to undergo an extremely strict permitting process involving very detailed environmental impact studies. Violations are usually punished extremely harshly. But when it comes to wind parks in Germany, the fox in the henhouse often seems to rule. This also may be the case at a proposed JuWi wind park location in the area of Donnersberg (Palatinate).

Back in 2016 the existence of a nest at the location of interest was proven. The nest belonged to a pair of rare black storks that later gave birth to three offsprings that year, and to four more in 2017. Normally with such a nest in the area, obtaining a permit to clear away forest and to set up an industrial complex would be totally out of the question.

Rare and legally protected black stork nest gets allegedly destroyed in what is suspected to be a criminal attempt to clear the way for a wind park construction permit. Photo see: Rettet den Odenwald

According to Rettet den Odenwald, the nest belonging to the pair of rare black storks appears to have been recently willfully and criminally destroyed.

Earlier, local citizens had worked closely with authorities to stop the construction of five JuWi wind turbines, which had been permitted to be built right close to what later was discovered as the nest belonging to the pair of protected black storks. The black stork pair had been expected to return to its nest by early March to produce offsprings.

Tree and nest destroyed

But then on February 10, 2018, Rettet den Odenwald broke the tragic news: the tree in which the nest had been perched had been singled out and  illegally cut down “by unknown attackers” using a power saw, thus preventing the stork pair from returning and successfully nesting this year.

The obstacle blocking the construction of the JuWi windpark in the area was in effect disposed of.

Destroyed tree in the Forest of Odes (Odenwald). Home to the nest of a pair of rare, legally-protected black storks was illegally cut down. Conservationists and wind park opponents suspect foul play by the wind industry. Photo see: Rettet den Odenwald

Path “reopens for greed”

The conservationist Rettet den Odenwald site writes:

This lawbreaking allows the permitting process for the planned and halted wind park to now appear in a new light. … The lawful protection that was established by the provision of facts was illegally undone and thus has again reopened the door for the greed of those with a stake in the wind park.”

The outrage by conservationists and wind park opponents came swiftly and loudly. Already on February 12 Rettet den Odenwald issued a press release in which they demand the Environment Ministry to assure that no permit be granted in the event of such criminal acts and that they take swift action.

JuWi condemns destruction

In a press release, JuWi stated that it “condemns the criminal act in the harshest terms”. Moreover the press release adds: “JuWi is filing criminal charges against unknown perpetrators for violating federal nature protection laws”.

The latest in a series of criminal environmental destruction acts

This is not the first time that nests and homes for protected species located in proposed wind park areas have been destroyed in Germany. Der Spiegel has reported on this before, e.g. see here.

Also read “wind power mafia” destroys stork’s nest here.  

When it comes to saving the planet, wind parks seem to get away with everything nowadays. Often times wind turbines get installed right up close to residents and thus make them sick from infrasound, or they ruin idyllic landscapes, destroy biotopes, cause hazards in the North Sea, shred migrating birds, etc. Environmental concerns from citizens be damned!

As far as the wind park in Odenwald is concerned, don’t be surprised if its construction ends up getting permitted soon. Greed disguised as green always gets its way in Germany.

51 responses to “Greed Energy…Endangered Black Stork Nest Blocking Wind Park Construction Gets Criminally Destroyed”

  1. Bitter&twisted

    The irony, destroying nature to “save the planet”
    In green zealots eyes this was a good compromise.
    Or maybe it was just good, old fashioned greed.

  2. Ric Werme

    An eagle’s nest in Ontario was cut down for a wind project in Ontario.

    It also caused quite a flap.

    https://ontario-wind-resistance.org/2013/01/08/wind-turbine-company-nextera-mnr-destroy-bald-eagle-nest-habitat/ says in small part:

    “Bald eagles typically start to look for nests in early winter and have been known to use more than one nest. By removing the nest before Jan. 6, it is anticipated they will find another suitable nest location and will avoid disturbing them during their critical nesting period.

    Timing is critical as the eagles are not currently situated in the nest, however they have been seen perching in the area. Removing the nest will reduce the risk of eagle mortality at the site.

  3. Yonason (from a friend's comp)
  4. AndyG55

    Destruction of habitat…

    … the AGW/Green Agenda, writ large !!

    Not only don’t they CARE…

    … they go out of their way to cause it.

  5. AndyG55

    ““JuWi is filing criminal charges against unknown perpetrators “

    ie, someone is due a promotion…

    What else can they do but FAKE it. !!

    1. Kurt in Switzerland

      The line from the Queen in Shakespeare’s Hamlet comes to mind: “The Lady doth protest too much!”

  6. AndyG55

    Global installation of wind has dropped the last two years

    https://i0.wp.com/gwec.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Global_Annual_Installed_Wind_Capacity_2001-2017.jpg

    from NotaLot….

    1. wert

      But talk about net production, not gross capacity!

      1. SebastianH

        Let’s talk about net production … 52573 MW added capacity. At 18% capacity (offshore has almost double that, but isn’t yet deployed as widely) factor that would be 82.9 TWh of electricity or almost 300 PJ. This is strange, since the BP 2017 report says renewables only grew by 50-ish PJ from 2015 to 2016 …

        What’s wrong with those numbers?

        1. AndyG55

          Slide around the original comment, hey seb,

          “Global installation of wind has dropped the last two years”

          Its still a tiny pittance, at enormous expense, to achieve NOTHING !

          Governments are finding that they can’t afford this intermittent unreliable idiocy.

          You do know that in 2015, 2016 German wind was BELOW 17% of nameplate for more than half the time, don’t you. !!

          https://s19.postimg.org/4z7h09rlf/German_Windpower.png

          That really is PATHETIC.

          1. SebastianH

            You do know that you are talking about added capacity, not installed base … right?

            17% of nameplate for more than half the time, don’t you. !!

            Fine, capacity factor of 17% then. Doesn’t really change the calculation, does it? Renewables should have increased by almost 300 PJ just from wind year over year. But according to BP it’s much less. So what’s the deal with those numbers?

          2. AndyG55

            “You do know that you are talking about added capacity, not installed base … right?”

            Yes seb, the amount installed each year is starting to drop, as expected. d

            or you comprehend .. or not.???

            —-

            “Fine, capacity factor of 17% then”

            roflmao..

            run and hide from REALITY seb. Its all you can do.

            Its below 30% of its nameplate 80% of the time!!!

            It really is a WHY BOTHER non-supply,

            Irregular, unreliable, intermittent, highly network disruptive.

            Just a HUGE waste of time, money, effort and the environment.

        2. SebastianH

          Found the problem. The BP report is in Mtoe not PJ 😉

          52.9 Mtoe equal 2215 PJ, so a growth by 300 PJ is completely plausible.

          Kenneth mentioned 485000 5 MW wind turbines in another thread to keep up with the yearly growth in energy consumption alone. That equals 328.8 Mtoe of primary energy added by wind alone while primary energy consumption only increased by 171.3 Mtoe from 2015 to 2016 and at current growth rates won’t increase by that much per year even in the 2030s.

  7. AndyG55
    1. Yonason (from a friend's comp)

      GREAT NEWS!!!

  8. John F. Hultquist

    What I am going to suggest has been done by others but I suggest SebastianH do the arithmetic based on assumptions she/he deems reasonable.

    Do a projection for 32 years, 2050**.
    Get estimates for how much space (land) is required per wind tower.
    If you like, include a percentage for solar.
    What is the current total of electricity demand, and what in 2050?
    How many towers (and their footprints) (+solar, if you like) will need to be built between now and 2050, to meet all electricity demand then.
    What is the total land footprint of wind/solar of meeting demand.
    If you like to play with numbers: How much wind solar has to be built per day to meet 2050 demand.
    [Nameplate capacity is not acceptable, so specify an average capacity factor, and justify it.]

    **A later year, say 2075 or 2100, is okay with me. However, going that far out might mean a new technology, perhaps dilithium crystals will have been introduced.

    1. SebastianH

      A Star Trek fan, nice 😉

      Here is a TED talk on that topic, I liked: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gAQ82IHyZ8 (it’s only 18 minutes, so please give it a try).

  9. wert

    I’d say just let them flatten forests. It serves good because people will learn that there is then no forest, no storks, and still high price for electricity though it was to be that renewables are cheaper than hydro/coal/nuclear/gas combo.

    Qui bono? The attacker could of course have been a third party that knew the nest and knew the nest would stop the project. The wind company should now both retreat and build a new artificial nest for the bird it disturbed.

  10. Yonason (from a friend's comp)

    The scam of “green” energy exposed, yet again…
    https://www.friendsofscience.org/assets/documents/Green-Jobs-Rhetoric_Lyman.pdf

    The only thing “green” about it is the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ pilfered from the pockets of hard working individuals by a bunch of CROOKS!

    Truly unrenewable, or as I now prefer thanks to tomOmason, “ruinable.” Anyone advocating the widespread use of those monstrosities has neither brain nor heart.

    1. SebastianH

      You are hilarious Yonason. If only you could use your fanatism for a worthy cause instead of trying to make renewables bad. No brain and heart … damn good self-description 😉

      1. AndyG55

        Only person in a fantasy world here, is YOU, seb

        Fantasy FIZZICS

        Fantasy non-science,

        Fantasy yapping.

        Your whole life.

      2. AndyG55

        It is noted that you are again TOTALLY UNABLE to counter anything that Yon and put forward.

        EMPTY as always.

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. More information at our Data Privacy Policy

Close