Big government is swinging its regulatory hammer at a green energy darling for the tragic deaths of two American icons, the bald eagle.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has slapped Ørsted, a major player in wind energy, with a proposed fine of $32,340 for the deaths of two bald eagles at their facilities in Nebraska and Illinois, alleging violations of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Post Millennial reported.
For hardworking taxpayers, this saga raises a glaring question: why are companies like Ørsted, often propped up by progressive clean energy agendas, not held accountable sooner for the environmental costs of their operations, especially when it risks footing the bill for legal battles or higher energy prices?
The trouble started in March 2024, when a bald eagle was found dead near a turbine at Ørsted’s Plum Creek facility in Wayne County, Nebraska. A necropsy by the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory confirmed the bird’s death resulted from a collision with the turbine.
Fast forward to April 2025, and history repeated itself with another bald eagle found dead near Ørsted’s Lincoln Land facility in Illinois. Again, the necropsy pointed to a turbine strike as the cause.
Here’s the rub: Ørsted didn’t have an incidental take permit, a legal safeguard required under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act to cover such unintended wildlife deaths. The Fish and Wildlife Service isn’t playing around, issuing a violation notice and giving the company 45 days to respond before finalizing the penalties.
Ørsted, a subsidiary of Ørsted A/S, operates 13 wind farms across the U.S. and dabbles in solar farms, bioenergy, and energy storage. Once hailed by the previous administration as a poster child for clean energy, they’re now under scrutiny for failing to protect our national symbol.
A spokesperson for the Plum Creek and Lincoln Land facilities stated, “will continue to engage and cooperate with USFWS on this matter.” Well, that’s a nice sentiment, but cooperation after the fact doesn’t bring back those eagles or erase the liability risk for operating without proper permits.
The violation notice, received by Ørsted on October 29, pulls no punches, stating, “the gravity of these violations is serious.” And let’s be honest, when a company knows the risks after the first incident in 2024 and still operates without a permit, it’s hard to call that an honest oversight.
Adding salt to the wound, the agency noted that Ørsted has no prior wildlife violations but continued operations despite being aware of the danger to birds. Credit where it’s due—they did voluntarily report the kills and helped preserve the carcasses for investigation.
Still, the notice underscores a deeper issue: bald eagles, alongside golden eagles, are trust species of the United States, holding immense religious and cultural significance to Native Americans. Ignoring that isn’t just a paperwork problem; it’s a slap in the face to heritage and values many Americans hold dear.
The government’s responsibility to protect these majestic birds isn’t some woke talking point—it’s a duty. As the notice reminds us, while eagle numbers have climbed from historic lows, human threats persist, and each loss stings.
Let’s talk brass tacks: the fine breaks down to $16,170 per eagle, a modest sum for a company like Ørsted, which builds sprawling wind farms. But it’s not just about the money—it’s about ensuring that green energy doesn’t trample over wildlife in the rush to meet lofty climate goals.
Conservatives have long warned that the push for renewables often glosses over real-world consequences, like turbine collisions, while taxpayers and small businesses bear the downstream costs of regulatory messes. Ørsted’s case is a wake-up call: innovation can’t come at the expense of our natural treasures.
So, while the left might cry foul over this fine, let’s keep the focus where it belongs—holding corporations accountable, protecting our national symbols, and ensuring that energy policies don’t leave rural communities or wildlife in the dust. The Fish and Wildlife Service is right to act, and Ørsted must step up before more eagles pay the ultimate price.
