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The Arkansas state Senate Agriculture Committee has shot down a bill that aimed to place a moratorium on wind energy turbines over 150 feet tall across the state. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Searcy) and Rep. Jeremiah Moore (R-Clarendon), aimed to restrict the height of future wind turbines, citing concerns over the impact of tall turbines on migratory bird populations.
Dismang and Moore argued that the tall turbines would kill and displace waterfowl and raptor populations, and proposed a study by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to assess the impact of wind turbines on migratory birds. The bill would have also limited the height of new wind turbines to 150 feet for two years.
However, the committee voted against the bill, citing concerns that it would stifle the growth of the wind energy industry in the state. Wind energy companies and advocates, including Cordelio Power, Triple Oak Power, and the Southern Renewable Energy Association, testified against the bill, arguing that it would have a negative impact on the industry and the state’s economy.
Representatives of the companies pointed out the economic benefits of wind energy projects, including tax revenue and job creation. They also emphasized the importance of responsible siting and cooperation between developers and wildlife agencies to minimize the impact of wind turbines on wildlife.
Ducks Unlimited policy director Ed Penny, who testified in support of the bill, acknowledged that while there is some science suggesting that wind turbines could displace and disrupt bird populations, he also noted that the evidence is not conclusive and that birds do not die from wind turbines.
The bill’s opponents argued that it would undermine Arkansas’ commitment to private property rights, free market principles, and economic development, and that it would remove an important tool for promoting renewable energy development in the state.