Utah Caverns To Save Natural Energy

Caverns Article:
http://blog.taragana.com/business/2010/02/07/developer-plans-to-carve-out-utah-salt-caverns-for-natural-gas-compressed-air-or-co2-28927/

Creating a location to be able to store energy instead of using it when it is available, such as only when the wind is blowing, would be cost effective and convenient. This would help maintain balance for when natural energy resources are not always available.

However, there are other elements to consider. What would the environmental impact be? What about the desert animals? Is there a way to safely relocate the animals? Could there be a problem structurally with the caverns? For example, in Florida when we pump too much water out of the ground sinkholes occur. What would it take just to create these energy-storing caverns? It takes removing thousands of trees and blasting the earth with dynamite to get to oil. Will a similar approach taken? Could this permanently damage the animal habitats and environment?