Image: SHEILA MADRAK/USGS
In October 2022, I attended ClimateTech at MIT. One talk especially caught my attention. Gia Schneider of Natel Energy spoke about a fish-safe turbine blade her company had developed. She also said she thought eels were cute. I knew kids would love that.
I spoke to her one-on-one afterwards, and she told me that engineers are constantly designing things with safety in mind — human safety. Worrying about animal safety is a relatively new thing, but something that is thankfully getting more attention. Any development project will disturb land and possibly harm wildlife. That includes clean energy projects. I was struck by the disconnect here. Many kids (and adults!) believe that we should support biodiversity and also support clean energy. They may not have considered that it’s not that easy to have both things. I thought this was something everyone should understand.
Here’s how to increase clean energy without harming wildlife
Researchers are developing creative ideas to protect eels, eagles, tortoises and more
Science News Explores, April 6, 2023
