It turns out alternative energy companies, supposedly kinder than kind to Mother Nature, have some dirty not-so-little secrets. At least one of them wants to keep it that way.

Americans learned last year that President Barack Obama’s administration had given the wind energy industry a break no one else gets. Federal laws intended to protect some birds, such as bald eagles, were not being enforced against the firms.

That led The Associated Press to inquire how many birds are being killed by the giant, spinning blades connected to wind energy generators.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials were ready to give the AP reports on the matter from wind energy companies. One, Pacificorp of Portland, Ore., has filed a lawsuit to block release of the information.

The AP already knows of dozens of eagle deaths caused by wind farms. Pacificorp operates more than a dozen wind farms in Wyoming and two other states. AP reporters know that at least 20 dead eagles have been found on company property in Wyoming.

If wind energy is such a wonderful idea, why is the firm so set on keeping bird kills a secret?

There is no acceptable reason for it to do so. The federal judge involved in the case should reject Pacificorp’s lawsuit and order that the information sought by the AP be released.