Wind Energy Company Sentenced to Probation and Fined $8 Million For Killing Over 150 Eagles

A subsidiary of one of the largest renewable energy providers in the United States pleaded guilty to criminal charges after at least 150 eagles were killed at their wind farms in eight states.

Source: KQED QUEST/Youtube

NextEra Energy subsidiary ESI Energy was ordered to pay $8 million in fines and restitution and sentenced to five years of probation. They were charged with three counts of violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The charges first came from the deaths of nine eagles at three wind farms in Wyoming and New Mexico, but the company admitted there were many more deaths of these endangered animals at their farms.

NextEra has more than 100 wind farms in the United States and Canada and also generates natural gas, nuclear power, and solar power. They acknowledged the deaths of golden and bald eagles at nearly 50 wind farms affiliated with the companies since 2012.

Prosecutor notes that nearly all of the eagles that were killed, occurred because they were struck by the blades of wind turbines. Officials say that since the carcasses were not always found, the number killed was likely much higher than 150. Unlike other companies, they failed to take steps to prevent these deaths, despite receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in federal tax credits from the wind power they produced.

Companies have often been able to avoid prosecution from the law if they take steps to avoid deaths or seek permits. NextEra Energy and ESI Energy however did not do either of these things, stating that they didn’t think they needed them.

During the Trump era, criminal prosecutions were halted for birds that were killed unintentionally by the industry. However, although President Joe Biden has been pushing for more renewable energy, he is also enforcing protection for eagles and other birds through the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act says it is illegal to kill or harm eagles, but many industries still believe they should not be held accountable for birds that are killed because of their operations.

Eagles have faced many threats caused by humans like lead poisoning, hunting, wind farms, and many other issues. Although they are not technically under the protection from the Endangered Species Act anymore, the numbers are still lower than they should be. Most of the eagles killed at the wind farms were golden eagles, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2,200 are killed every year due to human activity, and that number will likely continue to increase.

ESI agreed to spend $27 million to take steps to prevent bird deaths, including shutting down turbines when eagles are likely to be present. When an eagle does die, it will have to pay $29,623 under the plea deal. We need to take more steps to protect these amazing creatures and hold these companies accountable! Sign this petition to hold a hunter responsible for over 400 protected eagles he killed.

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