The flap over "green" energy and "green" goals intensifies

Author: Reed Hopper

Reuters reports "The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on Monday issued guidelines to protect the [sage grouse] which state officials and environmentalists say will effectively preclude wind power development in about 20 percent of the sprawling state. The BLM move bolstered Wyoming's steps to identify key grouse habitat.

"I don't read the policy to completely ban wind energy in these areas though the restrictions might make it difficult to have an economically viable wind project (in them),' said Laurie Jodziewicz, manager of siting policy for American Wind Energy Association.

Wind energy is usually seen as 'green' but environmentalists say wind turbines and the development that goes with them will further fragment critical sage habitat."

Read more here.