Wind Turbines and the Unintended Impact on Bald Eagles: A Closer Look
The Trump Department of the Interior is taking action against a green energy company due to a tragic incident involving wind turbines and American bald eagles. This move underscores the complexities of balancing renewable energy initiatives with wildlife conservation efforts.
According to a violation notice obtained by Fox News Digital, Ørsted Onshore North America faces a proposed fine of $32,340 after two bald eagles were found dead near wind turbines at their Plum Creek, Nebraska, and Lincoln Land, Illinois facilities. The notice accuses the company of violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, as the deaths occurred without an “incidental take permit.”
The first incident occurred in March 2024, when a bald eagle was found deceased near a turbine at Ørsted’s Plum Creek facility in Nebraska. A necropsy confirmed the eagle’s death was due to a collision with a wind turbine. A similar fate befell another eagle in April 2025, just 200 yards from a turbine in Lincoln Land, Illinois.
Ørsted did not have permits allowing the deaths of these eagles, prompting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to suggest civil penalties of $16,170 per violation, summing up to $32,340. The company was given a 45-day window to respond before penalties are finalized.
A representative from Ørsted confirmed receipt of the notice on October 29 and stated, “The company will continue to engage and cooperate with USFWS on this matter.”
Ørsted Onshore, part of the Danish clean energy giant Ørsted A/S, operates 13 wind farms across the United States. Ørsted A/S is recognized globally for its leadership in clean energy, managing offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage, and bioenergy plants. They are also involved in offshore wind projects worldwide, including in the U.S.
The company’s projects, like Ocean Wind 1 and Ocean Wind 2 in New Jersey, have faced scrutiny and were eventually canceled in 2023 due to economic issues, impacting President Joe Biden’s green energy targets.
Ørsted’s website outlines its mission to “create a world that runs entirely on green energy,” emphasizing its commitment to job creation, economic boosting, community partnerships, and nature conservation in America.
Despite having no prior wildlife violations, Ørsted is criticized for not securing an eagle take permit after the initial incident in 2024. However, the company did report the incidents and cooperated with authorities, preserving the carcasses for investigation.
While acknowledging the company’s cooperation, the violation notice highlights the severity of these infractions, stating, “The gravity of these violations is serious,” and pointing out the ongoing threats bald eagles face from human activities. Bald eagles and golden eagles hold cultural and religious importance for Native Americans, and the U.S. government emphasizes its duty to protect these species.
U.S. Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum has voiced concerns about renewable energy projects, suggesting they destabilize the grid and increase prices. In a statement on Jesse Watters Primetime in June, Burgum criticized such initiatives as “pro-China and anti-American,” also labeling them “unaffordable and unreliable.”
Original Story at www.foxnews.com