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Solar Plant Sets Birds On Fire As They Fly Overhead

Elledan writes: Federal investigators in California have requested that BrightSource — owner of thermal solar plants — halt the construction of more (and bigger) plants until their impact on wildlife has been further investigated. "Unlike many other solar plants, the Ivanpah plant does not generate energy using photovoltaic solar panels. Instead, it has more than 300,000 mirrors, each the size of a garage door. Together, they cover 1,416 hectares. Each mirror collects and reflects solar rays, focusing and concentrating solar energy from their entire surfaces upward onto three boiler towers, each looming up to 40 stories high. The solar energy heats the water inside the towers to produce steam, which turns turbines that generate enough electricity for 140,000 homes." The concentrated solar energy chars and incinerates the feathers of passing birds. BrightSource estimates about a thousand bird die this way every year, but an environmental group claims the real number is much higher.

12 of 521 comments (clear)

  1. Slaver sunflowers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I was excited for a moment. I thought someone had made slaver sunflowers :). http://larryniven.wikia.com/wiki/Slaver_Sunflower

  2. Cut out the middle man! by Black+Parrot · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why not skip all the expensive equipment and just use birds for fuel?

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  3. Re:Hydroelectric Dams by Hadlock · · Score: 5, Funny

    Three humans die each day due to obesity-related health reasons within 3500 of the McDonalds by my house. They say humans are attracted to the site by the brightly-lit golden arches which some say is a food source for the species.

    --
    moox. for a new generation.
  4. Re:god dammit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Add KFC next to solar powerplant... problem fixed!

  5. Re:god dammit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's what the catapults are for.

  6. Re:god dammit. by Solandri · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hawks and other raptors kill lots of birds too. So if you really want to stop the carnage, you should kill them too.

  7. Re:god dammit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I find that hard to believe - very few automobiles get killed by skyscrapers in my experience.

  8. Re:god dammit. by Dragonslicer · · Score: 4, Funny

    chickens can't fly that high

    What do chickens have to do with KFC?

  9. Re:Insignificant...unless you're the bird by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Actually no, Society is not OK with that. Only the most horrible pet owners let their cats out like that. It's the scumbag fringe of society that is OK with it.
    Many cities are trying hard to fight the scourge of bad pet owners letting their cats out.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  10. Re:god dammit. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Here's one: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-e... Well, just a serious maiming rather than killing, but still...

  11. Re:god dammit. by timrod · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sorry to be completely off-topic, but The Nuclear Shill sounds like the name of a really bad comic book villain.

  12. Re:god dammit. by ThatsDrDangerToYou · · Score: 3, Funny

    Household cats and their escaped feral counterparts kill like a 1 billion birds and small animals in the US every year...

    "Fuck them." -- my cat