COMMENTS Against the Proposed Increase of Incidental Take for Maui’s Nene and Hoary Bats

March 25, 2017

To: Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife

(excerpts)

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources proposes to amended Habitat Conservation Plan to increase incidental take for the Hawaiian hoary bat from 11 to 62 adults (or juveniles surviving to adult), and for nēnē from 30 to 48 adults (or juveniles surviving to adult) during the remaining 20-year permit that was issued in 2012.

The project currently has an approved (but unscientific) Habitat Conservation Plan to monitor and mitigate for take of three bird species and one bat species protected under state and federal Endangered Species laws.

This entire proposal should be rejected and the only reasonable change that is needed, is to require honest scientifically sound research around all of Maui turbines for several years before any new conditions are given.

Here is the scientific truth about wind energy research in Hawaii Wind farms statewide are NOT killing more Hawaiian hoary bats than expected, these wind farms statewide are killing far more than what has been reported. This Maui wind farm is asking the state to increase the number of endangered bats and Nene it’s allowed to "incidentally" kill probably because people are catching on to this industry's fraudulent research that has been deliberately designed to hide carcasses.

Had proper research been done from the start of this project, the number of reported fatalities to endangered Hoary bats and Nene would have been far greater from the very first year of operation. The number of Hoary bats and Nene already killed by these turbines has very likely already exceed the limits set in the new proposals. The proof I am submitting proves beyond any doubt the wind turbine mortality research that has taken place in Hawaii, has been so poor that there is no way to tell how many have bats, Nene or what number of other important species have been killed by Maui’s turbines.

But there is one certainty in all this. That being that many more of all these species have been killed by Maui’s turbines than what has been reported to date. The proof I am submitting also shows that this industry and all those involved with these turbines, have no reasonable excuses to have not known the information I am submitting.

I will remind the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Division of Forestry and Wildlife that pretending to do research is not science, manipulating data is not science and being exposed to

filtered information in the media does mean it is true. But most of all changing laws and rules for a corrupt industry will NEVER benefit any of Hawaii’s these endangered species.

Hawaii’s wind turbine studies are supposed to be looking for endangered species. But Having searchers monitor these huge wind turbines just once a week and only out 65-75 meters from the base of the turbines is a disgrace, guaranteeing that most carcasses will probably be missed. This nonscientific approach should have never been allowed in the first place because search areas were 5-10 times too small, search intervals far too infrequent and nobody except honest researchers should ever be allowed to touch turbine carcasses.

…

…with the research to date, Hawaii has no idea how many endangered species have been and continue to be killed by their turbines. Important carcasses are being missed with poor research, others probably hidden with still others seen, but reported.

As a wildlife expert and researcher, I am aware of the fake onslaught of false research being produced by this industry. The industry has used nonscientific research since 1985 to hide their slaughter to thousands of eagles and millions of birds annually. The Interior Department allows all this and this represents the wall of corruption the good people in the country are up against.

For their fake research, this industry has given themselves small mortality search areas and infrequent searches because it is good for business. This industry allows employees to handle, hide or move carcasses during studies because it is good for business. This industry hides and does not report carcasses because it is good for business. This industry also rigs data in studies to produce bogus estimates because it is good for business.

…

A few words about “Incidental Take” permits

If it were not for groups like Audubon and the Sierra Club etc. making millions off dead eagles and endangered species through mitigation, these groups would probably have a completely different opinion about wind energy’s “incidental take” permits.

In certain locations, incidental take permits may be required before construction of a wind farm. But as I have found with this industry, fake surveys are generated beforehand in an attempt to hide habitat usage by special status species. But when special Incidental take permits from the Interior Department are needed, it allows the killing of a certain number of these important species. But as it turns out research is being produced which exaggerates population numbers, which in turn makes it appear that more of these special species can be harvested without really hurting the population.

But even with this permit, whatever the certain number of take is, this doesn’t much matter either because there is no real accountability when research in unscientific and employees are allowed to touch carcasses. No wind industry accountability is the primary reason why over 35000 eagle carcasses have been secretly shipped to the Denver Eagle Repository since 1997.

It actually is a disgrace that our government considers any eagle and endangered species killed by modern wind turbine to be incidental, when the act of installing these knowingly very deadly turbines into habitat desperately needed by rare species is not the least bit incidental. In fact, the building of these turbines is so intentional and premeditated that the industry must rig their site surveys and mortality research to keep the public from knowing the industrial devastation caused to wildlife from wind turbines.

This wind turbine destruction and habitat abandonment occurs not only to eagles, but to most species that fly, when forced to share habitat with wind turbines. This industry’s growing mortality is so devastating to species, that it if it continues, it will cause extinction to many species and many new species will eventually be added to the endangered species list.

This wind industry’s destruction is also happens to be an international problem. That is why the public has not been told of the disappearing eagles in Scandinavia and Scotland from wind energy. Instead fake United Kingdom studies like those produced by our Interior Department, are fraudulently declaring increases in eagle populations.

Are any of these turbines really needed in Hawaii?

No and Hawaii needs to move on from this highly toxic source of energy. If the Department of Energy were honest the public would know that the MW energy reported for wind energy in the US is grossly exaggerated. The public would also be aware that enough cheap energy is being exported from the US to other counties that could produce triple the energy production from all of America’s wind turbines. This activity will last for decades, giving engineers plenty of time to completely redesign these terrible turbines.

Currently this industry is forcing America to trade these industrial towers, that will always produce just a small portion of our energy needs, for a coming extinction of species, with no change in climate and far fewer birds living across the world.

Hawaii’s geothermal energy

Lastly Hawaii has been blessed with what might be the best source for geothermal energy development in the world. Instead of investing in a wind industry slaughter, their bogus research, and the extinction of endangered species, this is where the Hawaii’s renewable energy money should be spent. In addition, unlike wind energy’s very limited potential with little net energy actually getting to end-users, Hawaii’s geothermal energy potential is spectacular and could prove to be unlimited.

If the State of Hawaii chooses to have an open hearing about any of the topics I have brought up, I will be happy to attend if I am allowed ask questions of any expert present.

Jim Wiegand -Wildlife biologist

Redding CA

PDF: Full Text of testimony