The recent criticism of a plan to build energy-generating wind turbines on Mars Hill is unfortunate but not unexpected. Last week, the Audubon Society and Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife raised concerns that the 400-foot-tall wind power towers proposed for the Aroostook County mountaintop could pose a danger to migrating birds. Concerns about birds scuttled a wind farm project in western Maine a decade ago.

The state should work hard to ensure that this doesn’t happen again. Although it will not focus on the Mars Hill project, the Legislature’s Utilities Committee will hold a public hearing today on the governor’s plan to increase the renewable portion of the state’s energy portfolio over the next nine years. Under his bill, the percentage of renewable energy, mostly wind, would be increased to 5 percent over that time. The Natural Resources Council of Maine advocates moving to 5 percent even quicker, by 2010.

There are small but measurable environmental benefits to wind power. The Mars Hill project, for example, would reduce annual emissions of carbon dioxide by 120,000 tons and sulfur dioxide by 420 tons because it would displace dirtier forms of energy generation such as coal and oil.

The Audubon Society recognizes the environmental benefits of wind power but believes that more study needs to be done to ensure that the Mars Hill project is in the proper location, according to Sally Stockwell, the group’s conservation director.

The task for the Department of Environmental Protection, which is now reviewing the project, is to balance its potential risks and benefits. According to a national Audubon study, 100 million birds are killed annually by cats. A study for the National Wind Coordinating Committee found that at least 60 million birds are killed annually in collisions with cars and at least 98 million die each year after hitting buildings. Up to 40,000 die from wind turbines. Many birds also die from the effects of power plant pollution and oil spills.

Although the overall impact remains small, it is incumbent upon Evergreen Wind Power to design the Mars Hill farm in a way that minimizes the risk

to birds. It says it has done so by using rounded, tall, slow moving turbines. The DEP must now decide if this is the case.

In the meantime, the company should work with Audubon, IF&W and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a detailed plan for post-construction monitoring. These groups should also work together to develop criteria for modifications to be made to the facility to lessen the harm if an unexpected number of birds are found to be harmed.

In the end, a project can be designed that helps people and minimizes harm to birds.