Gruesome Discovery Beneath the Blades (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Rosemount, Minnesota — A massive wind turbine at the University of Minnesota’s research facility struck and killed a bald eagle, leading to a proposed civil penalty from federal wildlife officials.
Gruesome Discovery Beneath the Blades
Technicians at the Eolos Wind Energy Research Field Station in Dakota County first discovered the lower torso and tail of the adult bald eagle on the ground below the turbine. The bird had suffered fatal injuries from a blade strike, which dismembered it into three pieces.[1][2]
Over a month later, searchers located the head and wings nearby. The facility had been testing collision detection sensors at the time, aware of risks to birds, yet no protective permit was in place. The 2.5-megawatt Clipper Liberty turbine stands 263 feet tall, with blades extending the total height to 415 feet.[3]
Obama-Era Grant Fuels the Project
The U.S. Department of Energy awarded a $7.9 million grant in 2010 to the University of Minnesota’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This funding supported construction of the turbine and ongoing research into wind energy efficiency, turbine design, and noise reduction.[1][2]…