Friends of Mission Creek | Eagles Endangered

Q: What will the Mission Creek Wind Farm do to our property values in Park County?
A: If you can’t see it from your property, probably nothing right away. If you can, well, we couldn’t find a real estate agent who ever had a buyer looking for property with a view of a wind farm. But the fact that a developer can come in and build a project with such far-reaching impact on his neighbors without recourse doesn’t bode well for buyer confidence, thus land values in rural Park County can be expected to suffer.

Q: Isn’t a wind farm better than a fossil fuel alternative?
A: Yes, generally. Wind turbines are fairly environmentally “clean” and the energy they produce is renewable. But they do operate at a 30% efficiency rate - at best. Plus, the energy used to manufacture and maintain the turbines comes primarily from fossil fuels and a turbine’s energy efficiency declines enough over 20 years that it eventually becomes economically impractical to continue operating.
But our quarrel isn’t with the efficacy of wind power. We only want to see wind power developed in such a way that it doesn’t impact wildlife and the rural character we cherish.

Q: Will the energy they produce stay in Park County?
A: We don’t know. And we don’t have any say over that. The Mission Creek Wind Farm Project won’t proceed until the developer finds an energy “buyer.” Once they seal that deal, that “buyer” will put it into an energy grid and can sell that energy to the highest bidder.

Q: So, it’s our land and their energy?
A: Yep.

Q: Are there any adverse environmental impacts from a wind farm in Mission Creek?
A: Yes. Some known. Some not known yet.

Q: What are the known impacts?
A: Initial impacts would be the construction of new roads to allow for erecting the turbines and later servicing them and the truck traffic that would accompany that construction. Once they’re built, the people closest to the turbines will experience some noise pollution when they are operating. They will also experience “shadow flicker” during sunlight hours and strobe light flashing at night. Then there will be additional transmission lines built to carry the electricity to the eventual buyers and we don’t know where those will be erected yet.

Q: And, what are the unknown impacts?
A: Well, we don’t know what impact the wind farm will have on the property values of nearby ranchers and property owners initially, and property values in general over time. And we really don’t know the extent of the impact the turbines will have on native raptors like our Golden Eagles. That’s why significantly more study is required before this project can proceed.

Q: Are you certain that eagles will be adversely impacted?
A: Yes, we’re pretty sure they will be. The problem lies with the way raptors hunt. All raptors soar high above their prey to avoid detection. These huge turbines create an enormous low-pressure area on one side of the blades and a similar high-pressure area on the other making soaring very difficult, if not just downright dangerous. Imagine trying to hang glide through a wind farm and you’ve got a pretty good idea of the difficulty. Unfortunately, there are ample studies that show these turbines are deadly to raptors, migratory birds, even bats. That’s why extensive study on the eagle population in Mission Creek is needed before this project moves forward. And why it’s regrettable that developers haven’t looked at the issue before now.

Q: Hasn’t this Wall Street company done an environmental impact study on what this wind farm will do to the wildlife in the area?
A: After 2 ½ years of planning the Mission Creek Wind Farm Project, no.

Q: Will they?
A: Apparently only if we put enough pressure on them to do it.

Q: Is this really their first wind farm project?
A: Yes. We’re their Beta Test.

Q: If we allow this wind farm project to proceed, will there be other wind farms to follow?
A: Possibly, but we don’t know. The problem we have here in Park County is a complete lack of any zoning or permitting regulations regarding wind turbines. This alone makes us a target for any Wall Street Investment firm to come in and make a killing in our wind energy.

Q: But doesn’t the county receive a huge tax contribution from this project?
A: “Huge” is yet to be seen. These developers speculate that Park County would receive $300,000 in tax revenue from this project but other much larger wind farms generate just a fraction of that amount for their counties.

Q: But won’t it create much-needed jobs in Park County?
A: A few, and that’s always good but the initial construction is largely done by outside workers skilled in erecting these turbines and the maintenance for the next 20 years doesn’t require more than a few people.

Q: How much money do these wind farms generate overall?
A: For the initial investors, millions. For the energy buyer and reseller, a few million. For the landowner with the turbines, around $30,000 a year for 20 years or $600,000.

Q: So, it’s our land, our wind energy, and their money?
A: Yep, pretty much.

1. Tell Bob Rowe "We don't want wind turbines in environmentally sensitive locations." email:bob.rowe(at)northwestern.com

(888) 467-2669 NorthWestern Energy, 40 East Broadway St., Butte MT,59701-9394

2. Voice your concerns to Senator Baucus and Senator Tester

3. Contact Park County Commissioners email:commissioners(at)parkcounty.org (406) 222-4106

4. Email questions to Paul Kimball email:paul.kimball(at)sagebrushenergy.net and Ben Ellis email:ben.ellis(at)sagebrushenergy.net

(307) 733-3954 SAGEBRUSH Energy, 25 S. Willow St., PO Box 4284, Jackson, WY 83001

5. Donate to Montana Audubon for lobbying and legislation for siting regulations

(406) 443-3949 Montana Audubon, Main Office, PO Box 595, Helena, MT 59264


Mission Creek has long been known for its open vistas of the Absaroka Mountains and 360 degree views of Montana scenery. It is also a historic nesting area for Golden Eagles. In fact, the first study of Golden Eagle nesting areas and biology began here in 1963. Today, the grandson of the scientist who conducted that initial study is studying Golden Eagle nesting in the same area, making it the most studied eagle nesting area in the West. But now, developers want to erect up to twelve 43 story tall wind turbines in this historic area. Wind turbines that have been proven to kill eagles and other raptors, migratory birds, and even bats. They made their plans under a shroud of secrecy, then told us there were no wildlife issues on the site. In over 2 ½ years of planning, these outsiders never conducted detailed wildlife studies. They never consulted the neighbors who would have to live over the fence from an industrial wind farm. And when they finally did tell our friends and neighbors about their plans, they told us there was nothing that could stand in their way. Not the eagles. Not the neighbors. Not the people of Montana. "At Montana Audubon we believe wind power is part of our energy solution. Yet it’s important in all wind projects to ensure that adequate bird and bat survey information is collected and used before wind farms are sited. We are working to ensure that wind energy producers do not locate their farms in critical habitat for birds or other wildlife. The problem with wind farms is straightforward: if farms are located in areas heavily used by birds, such as a migration flyway or on a nesting area for rare species, lots of birds are unnecessarily killed each year. However if these areas are avoided, bird deaths are not a problem. A wind farm located in an area with sensitive wildlife can have significant impacts.” Janet Ellis, Program Director, Montana Audubon. Contact Us \| Blog \| Videos
...so does the eagle have a say?
Press Releases Media Resources Q&A Take Action! 09.22.10 Park County group warns of challenges related to proposed Mission Creek wind farm Colmore Family Photo 10.12.10 Montana Couple Braces for a Familiar Battle 09.21.10 Missoulian Environmental assessment needed for Mission Creek 09.21.10 Chicago Tribune Article on Rupert and Eunice Colmore 10.11.10 Livingston Enterprise Response to letter about ad concerning wind farm 10.24.10 Bozeman Daily Chronicle Is Wind Welcome? 10.24.10 Bozeman Daily Chronicle Livingston wind farm proposed. Full Page Ad 11.01.10 Montana Pioneer Mission Creek Wind Farm Impacts Misrepresented by Corporate Rep Measure once. Cut twice. Full Page Ad ARTICLES BY OTHERS: 12.02.10 Great Falls Tribune We need to know more before pushing wind projects 12.08.12 Bozeman Daily Chronicle Wind energy expectations unrealistic 12.11.10 Bozeman Daily Chronicle Renewable energy puts Montanans to work 12.11.10 Missoulian More information needed from wind projects BLOG AND ARTICLES: Friends of Mission Creek Blog Wind Energy Articles Wind Energy Videos SAGEBRUSH ENERGY MISSION CREEK WIND FARM RESOURCES: Park County Community Development Issues, SAGEBRUSH Energy Wind Farm Proposed SAGEBRUSH Energy Mission Creek, Montana Project SAGEBRUSH Energy Mission Creek Wind Project 08.04.10 SAGEBRUSH Energy Mission Creek Project Map 09.10.10 Mission Creek Wind Farm, Distance from Neighbors to proposed SAGEBRUSH Energy turbines WILDLIFE RESOURCES: Montana Audubon Montana Audubon Wind Energy Policy Guidance Document Adopted by Montana Audubon Board January 12, 2008 Migratory Bird Treaty Act and The Wind Industry Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 Montana Peregrines 2010 International Migratory Bird Day Yellowstone Bird Report 2006 Conservation Assessment of Greater Sage-grouse and Sagebrush Habitats 2004 Riparian Habitat Dynamics and Wildlife Along the Upper Yellowstone River 2003 Protected Eagle Halts Eastern Oregon Wind Farms TURBINE RESOURCES: Wind Turbines Shed Their Gears NREL National Wind Technology Center IEA Wind turbinedrivetrain dynamics and reliability MONTANA WIND RESOURCES: Montana Wind Energy Development Montana Means Energy Montana Department of Commerce Northwestern U.S. Wind Mapping Project NorthWestern Energy RFI 2009 Renewable Resources and Community Renewable Energy Projects Gaelectric Public Comments 2009 Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency NWE arranges tentative deal for 25-megawatt wind farm east of Great Falls Billings Gazette Butte supercomputing company to help site wind, solar farms Great Falls Tribune Montana State University Energy Development NATIONAL WIND RESOURCES: NREL - National Renewable Laboratory IEA - International Energy Agency NERC - North American Electric Reliability Corporation NREL Avian Research 1997 North American Wind Power Industrial Wind Action Group Impact of Wind Farms on Property Values Wind Power: How We Got Here Wind Farms and Radar Tax Breaks and Subsidies for Wind Energy Feeble Wind Farms Fail to Hit Full Power The Sunday Times To Conquer Wind Power, China Writes the Rules The New York Times NATIONAL ACTION RESOURCES: Maine - Citizen's Task Force on Wind Power Rockford, IL - Lawsuits Prolong Delay for Supporters of Wind Farms Hood River, OR - Stop Wind Farms Here Cape Wind, MA - Lawsuits Announced Altona, PA - Lawsuits, Altona Accident End Wind Power in Beekmantown Better Plan, WI - Badgers for a Better Renewable Energy Plan AWEO: Extensive Wind Energy Action Resources Industrial Wind Action Group: facts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impacts MSTI RESOURCES: Letter to the editor: MSTI line is not green energy Bozeman Daily Chronicle Against boondoggle MSTI line Residents Voice Concern over MSTI Substation The Madisonian, MSTI Judge's Ruling Will Provide Avenue for Local Input Queen City News, MSTI Line Only Good for NorthWestern Debate Continues on Proposed MSTI Line Mission Creek Wind Farm Q&A: Q: What will the Mission Creek Wind Farm do to our property values in Park County? A: If you can’t see it from your property, probably nothing right away. If you can, well, we couldn’t find a real estate agent who ever had a buyer looking for property with a view of a wind farm. But the fact that a developer can come in and build a project with such far-reaching impact on his neighbors without recourse doesn’t bode well for buyer confidence, thus land values in rural Park County can be expected to suffer. Q: Isn’t a wind farm better than a fossil fuel alternative? A: Yes, generally. Wind turbines are fairly environmentally “clean” and the energy they produce is renewable. But they do operate at a 30% efficiency rate - at best. Plus, the energy used to manufacture and maintain the turbines comes primarily from fossil fuels and a turbine’s energy efficiency declines enough over 20 years that it eventually becomes economically impractical to continue operating. But our quarrel isn’t with the efficacy of wind power. We only want to see wind power developed in such a way that it doesn’t impact wildlife and the rural character we cherish. Q: Will the energy they produce stay in Park County? A: We don’t know. And we don’t have any say over that. The Mission Creek Wind Farm Project won’t proceed until the developer finds an energy “buyer.” Once they seal that deal, that “buyer” will put it into an energy grid and can sell that energy to the highest bidder. Q: So, it’s our land and their energy? A: Yep. Q: Are there any adverse environmental impacts from a wind farm in Mission Creek? A: Yes. Some known. Some not known yet. Q: What are the known impacts? A: Initial impacts would be the construction of new roads to allow for erecting the turbines and later servicing them and the truck traffic that would accompany that construction. Once they’re built, the people closest to the turbines will experience some noise pollution when they are operating. They will also experience “shadow flicker” during sunlight hours and strobe light flashing at night. Then there will be additional transmission lines built to carry the electricity to the eventual buyers and we don’t know where those will be erected yet. Q: And, what are the unknown impacts? A: Well, we don’t know what impact the wind farm will have on the property values of nearby ranchers and property owners initially, and property values in general over time. And we really don’t know the extent of the impact the turbines will have on native raptors like our Golden Eagles. That’s why significantly more study is required before this project can proceed. Q: Are you certain that eagles will be adversely impacted? A: Yes, we’re pretty sure they will be. The problem lies with the way raptors hunt. All raptors soar high above their prey to avoid detection. These huge turbines create an enormous low-pressure area on one side of the blades and a similar high-pressure area on the other making soaring very difficult, if not just downright dangerous. Imagine trying to hang glide through a wind farm and you’ve got a pretty good idea of the difficulty. Unfortunately, there are ample studies that show these turbines are deadly to raptors, migratory birds, even bats. That’s why extensive study on the eagle population in Mission Creek is needed before this project moves forward. And why it’s regrettable that developers haven’t looked at the issue before now. Q: Hasn’t this Wall Street company done an environmental impact study on what this wind farm will do to the wildlife in the area? A: After 2 ½ years of planning the Mission Creek Wind Farm Project, no. Q: Will they? A: Apparently only if we put enough pressure on them to do it. Q: Is this really their first wind farm project? A: Yes. We’re their Beta Test. Q: If we allow this wind farm project to proceed, will there be other wind farms to follow? A: Possibly, but we don’t know. The problem we have here in Park County is a complete lack of any zoning or permitting regulations regarding wind turbines. This alone makes us a target for any Wall Street Investment firm to come in and make a killing in our wind energy. Q: But doesn’t the county receive a huge tax contribution from this project? A: “Huge” is yet to be seen. These developers speculate that Park County would receive $300,000 in tax revenue from this project but other much larger wind farms generate just a fraction of that amount for their counties. Q: But won’t it create much-needed jobs in Park County? A: A few, and that’s always good but the initial construction is largely done by outside workers skilled in erecting these turbines and the maintenance for the next 20 years doesn’t require more than a few people. Q: How much money do these wind farms generate overall? A: For the initial investors, millions. For the energy buyer and reseller, a few million. For the landowner with the turbines, around $30,000 a year for 20 years or $600,000. Q: So, it’s our land, our wind energy, and their money? A: Yep, pretty much. 1. Tell Bob Rowe "We don't want wind turbines in environmentally sensitive locations." email:bob.rowe(at)northwestern.com (888) 467-2669 NorthWestern Energy, 40 East Broadway St., Butte MT,59701-9394 2. Voice your concerns to Senator Baucus and Senator Tester 3. Contact Park County Commissioners email:commissioners(at)parkcounty.org (406) 222-4106 4. Email questions to Paul Kimball email:paul.kimball(at)sagebrushenergy.net and Ben Ellis email:ben.ellis(at)sagebrushenergy.net (307) 733-3954 SAGEBRUSH Energy, 25 S. Willow St., PO Box 4284, Jackson, WY 83001 5. Donate to Montana Audubon for lobbying and legislation for siting regulations (406) 443-3949 Montana Audubon, Main Office, PO Box 595, Helena, MT 59264