Compared to the environmental impact of traditional energy sources, the environmental impact of wind power is relatively minor.[98] Wind power consumes no fuel, and emits no air pollution, unlike fossil fuel power sources. The energy consumed to manufacture and transport the materials used to build a wind power plant is equal to the new energy produced by the plant within a few months.[98] While a wind farm may cover a large area of land, many land uses such as agriculture are compatible, with only small areas of turbine foundations and infrastructure made unavailable for use.[99]
There are reports of bird and bat mortality at wind turbines as there are around other artificial structures. The scale of the ecological impact may[100] or may not be significant, depending on specific circumstances. Prevention and mitigation of wildlife fatalities, and protection of peat bogs, affect the siting and operation of wind turbines.[101]