WASHINGTON, DC -- Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-MA) successfully offered an amendment today to an energy bill moving through the Natural Resources Committee that would strike a balance between protecting wildlife and acting on the need for more renewable energy like wind power to address America’s energy and global warming challenges. The amendment authorizes funds to study ways to minimize wildlife loss due to wind turbines, and streamlines the Department of Interior’s advisory process on wind wildlife safety, while reaffirming its responsibility to enforce existing wildlife laws.
“I believe this amendment creates a balance between our need to protect wildlife like birds and bats, and the imperative that we move towards clean, renewable forms of energy like wind power, in order to reduce the global warming pollution that threatens all of the world’s species,” said Markey, Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

“While we need to ensure that wind energy is developed in a way that protects wildlife, climate science experts tell us that global warming puts 30 percent of the world’s animal and plants species at risk of extinction. Taking bold action to address our climate and energy dependence crises now, will ensure that we avoid the worst effects of global warming for both wildlife and ourselves in the future.”

Markey’s amendment was accepted today during a markup of the Energy Policy Reform and Revitalization Act (H.R. 2337) in the Committee on Natural Resources. The Sierra Club, U.S. PIRG and the Union of Concerned Scientists have all issued letters of support for the amendment.

Text of the amendment (PDF)