18. A Risk Assessment of Wind Farming On Amherst Island

Abstract

Amherst Island is an internationally renowned sanctuary for raptors and is home to 34 avian species at risk. In addition to providing critical habitat for migrating birds, Amherst Island also supports a variety of other taxa including reptiles, amphibians, bats, and butterflies, some of which are endangered. Located in eastern Ontario, the island has been ranked second in biodiversity significance by Islands of Life and has been internationally recognized as an Important Bird Area. Amherst Island gained attention in recent months following a proposal by Windlectric Inc. to install and operate up to 36 wind turbines on Amherst Island as part of the Government of Ontario’s renewable energy initiatives. Despite clear energy and economic benefits, negative impacts of wind turbine installation have also been well documented. Risks associated with wind farming include habitat fragmentation and destruction, increased road traffic, and bird and bat strikes.With the help of contacts at the Association to Protect Amherst Island, Kingston Field Naturalists, and Windlectric Inc., we plan to develop an unbiased risk assessment using data from primary literature and existing wind farms as case studies. We will place special focus on species of concern while weighing potential environmental disturbance against benefits of the green energy movement in Ontario. Our project is intended to act as a holistic, nonpartisan assessment of the benefits and potential concerns involved with the wind turbine project, and where appropriate, we hope to provide recommendations for mitigating damages associated with installation and operation.