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ECOLOGICAL ISSUES AND WIND SITING

Explore the ecological issues and wind siting guidance gleaned from twenty years of operating wind capacity in the USA, with case studies from diverse Midwest wind farms. Learn about wildlife impacts, including mortality, habitat loss, disturbance, and attractive nuisance effects, as well as the regional bird and habitat challenges faced. Understand the potential impacts on various species, including raptors, songbirds, bats, and more, and the importance of consistent regulations in mitigating cumulative environmental effects.

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ECOLOGICAL ISSUES AND WIND SITING

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  1. ECOLOGICAL ISSUES ANDWIND SITING Lessons from two decades of experience around the Country

  2. Wind Capacity Operating in the USASlide from AWEA (www.awea.org)

  3. Wind Farms in the Midwest

  4. Midwest Wind Farms • Buffalo Ridge – SW Minnesota • Top of Iowa – NW Iowa • No. Central Il. • NE Wis. • Other Wis.

  5. Windfarms in Wisconsin • Twn. Of Shirley • Kewaunee/Brown Counties • Twn. Of Addison • Montfort/Cobb • Forward Wind • Butler Ridge • Blue Sky/Green Fields

  6. Most Wind Projects are in Eastern Wisconsin

  7. Wildlife Impacts • Mortality due to collision • Loss of habitat • Disturbance • Reproductive impacts • Attractive nuisance

  8. Mortality • Raptors at Altamont Pass, CA • Songbirds • Bats • Recent incidents • Larger patterns

  9. Regional Bird Fatalities

  10. Loss of Habitat • Initial clearing • Installation • Long term

  11. Disturbance • Barrier effect • Motion on landscape • Disruption of movement patterns

  12. Reproductive impacts • Nesting sites • Booming grounds • Disrupting courtship flights • Loss of fledglings

  13. Attractive Nuisance • Soil disturbance provides prey habitat • Lights attract insect prey • New perching sites

  14. Wind/Wildlife issues in WI • Small impacts of existing (studied) sites • Potential impact on bats at Neda Mine • Impacts on waterfowl near Horicon Marsh • Impact of offshore wind in Great Lakes • Cumulative impact of many wind farms along the Niagara Escarpment

  15. Summary • There are concerns about wildlife impacts in Wisconsin (songbirds, waterfowl) • Other locations have different issues • Raptors in CA., grouse on plains, migrating bats in East • Inconsistent regulation means an uncontrolled “experiment” • Cumulative impacts still unknown

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