It's still more expensive than traditional sources of power, but many people expect wind will be priced comparably or even lower within a decade. Wind projects also have caused environmental concerns. The Altamont Pass wind project, located east of the San Francisco Bay Area, proved deadly to hawks, golden eagles and other predatory birds in the early 1980s. What wind developers learned at Altamont resulted in fundamental changes in future projects, OSU's Walker said. Tubular towers replaced latticed structures, eliminating surfaces where birds could perch.
Greater care is taken to locate wind projects away from migratory routes and feeding areas.
Blades are painted with ultraviolet reflective paint to make them easier for birds to see. The Audubon Society and its local chapters still find problems with some individual wind projects. Plumart said the group recently worked with the Houston-based Enron Corp. on a Southern California project that conservationists feared would disturb California condors. The Columbia Gorge Audubon Society also opposes a potential wind-energy site for the Columbia Hills in Washington state because of wildlife habitat concerns. The expansion of wind-power projects in Oregon and the Northwest reflects a national trend toward wind development.