Wind is the fastest growing renewable energy source. Despite wind energy's potential to combat climate change, poorly placed wind turbines can also pose a significant threat to wildlife, particularly birds and bats.

Read the Petition Letter
Wind: A Green Energy Solution
Wind Farms in the Wrong Places are Bad for Wildlife
Wind Power: The Right Approach

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Get Wind Power Right in Canada!

Wind energy is green energy, but only if it does not come at the expense of our wildlife.

The Petition Letter You'll be Sending:

Dear Prime Minister,

Wind energy is a clean, abundant, renewable source of energy that can contribute to combating the harmful environmental changes brought about by global warming.

However, I am calling on federal and provincial governments to ensure wind energy projects do not come at the expense of this country’s birds and other wildlife.

To get wind power right in Canada, I urge governments to enact policies and regulations that ensure the following:

Wind turbines and wind farms should not be located in Important Bird Areas or other areas with particular significance to congregating, migrating or breeding birds.

All wind farm proposals should be subject to an environmental assessment prior to development to assess their impact on all wildlife, including birds and bats.

Any wind farms that already exist within migratory corridors or bottlenecks should be subject to the best practices for mitigating their impacts on birds, especially during migration season.

I believe that wind energy development is an important part of a green energy solution to the planet’s growing climate crisis. I ask that Canada enact renewable energy policies that fight climate change, and that are good for wildlife.

Thank you for considering my views.

CC: Environment Minister Peter Kent
B.C. Premier Christy Clark, Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, Northwest Territories Premier Floyd Roland, Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie, Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Quebec Premier Jean Charest, New Brunswick Premier David Alward, Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, PEI Premier Robert Ghiz, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Kathy Dunderdale.

Sign this Petition Now!

Wind Energy: An Important Green Energy Solution

Global warming is creating a climate crisis that poses perhaps the greatest threat to people and biodiversity in our lifetime. This worldwide crisis is caused in part by our dependence on fossil fuel-based sources of energy, and the destructive emission of greenhouse gases that result from their use.

Wind energy is a clean, abundant, renewable source of energy that can contribute to combating the harmful environmental changes brought about by the climate crisis.

While the cost of producing wind power is still relatively high, it has dropped considerably in the last ten years, and will likely be a strong competitor in the Canadian electricity marketplace in the near future.

Wind Farms in the Wrong Places: Bad for Wildlife

Unfortunately, despite their potential contribution to combating climate change, poorly placed wind farms may have significant impacts on wildlife and its habitat, particularly birds and bats.

Collision with the moving turbine blades, the turbine tower or overhead power lines.

Reduced breeding productivity or reduced survival if birds are displaced from habitat by the presence and construction of turbines, and by the movement of maintenance vehicles.

Turbines create barriers between feeding, wintering, breeding and moulting areas, disrupting bird movement patterns and flight paths.

Some species that feed in flight, such as swallows, swifts, nighthawks and whip-poor-wills, and those with aerial courtship displays, may face added risks. Some studies suggest turbines may attract insects, acting as a lure for aerial insect-eating birds and bats.

Wind Power: Good Things in Good Places

Nature Canada supports the development of wind energy in Canada, coupled with conservation measures to reduce all forms of fossil fuel consumption.

Saw-whet Owl But wind energy must not be produced at the expense of wildlife.

Wind turbines and wind farms should not be located in places – such as Important Bird Areas – where birds congregate, migrate and breed.

All wind farm proposals should be subject to an environmental assessment prior to development in order to evaluate their impact on all wildlife, including birds and bats.

Regulators such as the provincial and territorial governments should adopt policies and guidelines that exclude wind energy projects from Important Bird Areas and other areas that are known to be of importance to birds and bats.

Any wind farms that already exist within migratory corridors or bottlenecks should be subject to the best practices for mitigating their impacts on birds, especially during migration season.

Sign the Petition to Get Wind Right in Canada!

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