Opponents say wind farm will destroy eagle habitat

Adult eagle flying
An adult eagle flies over St. Paul in this 2010 file photo.
MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson

RED WING, Minn. (AP) -- Opponents of a plan to construct 50 wind turbines in Goodhue County say the project will destroy the habitat for eagles and other raptors.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has approved the plan to place the turbines on 32,000 acres of land in Goodhue County. But, county Commissioner Ron Allen says regulators failed to consider an avian study that says the turbines would interfere with habitat for eagles, hawks and other birds.

KARE-TV reported the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommends that wind turbines be placed at least two miles from eagle nesting areas. The project developer, National Wind of Minneapolis, did not immediately respond to a call for comment.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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