Donald Trump criticized the wind-power industry last week for killing birds. A far bigger threat, however, is real estate developers and their tall buildings.
About 599 million birds are killed annually in the U.S. when they fly into windows, only after loss of habitat and cats as the top causes of bird deaths, according to the National Audubon Society. Wind turbines account for about 234,000 deaths.
"Wind turbines are way at the end of the list of threats to birds compared to fossil fuel development, oil pits, coal mining -- and collisions with buildings," said Nicolas Gonzalez, an Audubon Society spokesman.
Trump fired off his wind-energy critique in a speech Thursday, saying turbines are "killing all the eagles." The statement came as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee outlined his energy policy, calling for the U.S. to lift environmental regulations and use more coal, oil and natural gas. Wind and solar energy, Trump said, are "very expensive" and can't work without "massive" subsidies.
SundayMonday Business on 05/30/2016