The Department of Environmental Conservation has released for public review proposed Guidelines for Conducting Bird and Bat Studies at Commercial Wind Energy Projects. These guidelines inform potential wind developers of the information DEC needs about wind farm sites to assess impacts to birds and bats. The guidelines were developed through a stakeholder process sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority which included industry representatives as well as bird and bat biologists from government agencies, academia and non-governmental environmental groups. Comments will be received until March 7, 2008 via mail to Brianna Gary, NYSDEC Bureau of Habitat, 625 Broadway 5th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-4756 or via email.

The 2002 New York State Energy Plan placed a priority on increased energy diversity and use of renewable energy sources, and the New York Renewable Portfolio Standard promotes the research and development of alternative energy projects, particularly commercial wind energy (http://www.nyserda.org/rps/default.asp). While wind energy has significant environmental benefits when compared to energy produced from fossil fuel, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) must also consider the potential environmental impacts of wind energy production when evaluating proposed projects. Currently, the nature and severity of both site-specific and cumulative impacts that commercial wind energy projects may have on birds and bats in New York State is DEC's most pressing issue related to wind energy development.

These guidelines outline DEC's recommendations to commercial wind energy developers on how to characterize bird and bat resources at on-shore wind energy sites, and how to estimate and document impacts resulting from the construction and operation of projects. Bird and bat resources includes all species of birds (Class Aves) and bats (Order Chiroptera) that use or may use the site, as well as the habitats that support them. The guidelines also provide a general framework for the developer to propose site-specific studies needed to evaluate the potential and/or actual effects of a given wind energy project. It should be recognized that the effort required to fully understand the movement of birds and bats at any given site would be monumental and would take many years. Therefore, the studies recommended here are considered the minimum effort necessary to characterize bird and bat activity at a site within a reasonable time frame relative to project construction. This guidance provides for two tracks for pre-construction and post-construction studies: "standard" and "expanded." Many sites will warrant the "standard" studies. However, where site-specific conditions or findings suggest exceptional risk to birds and/or bats, expanded protocols and/or additional years of study will be recommended. Also, the protocols outlined are intended to provide comparability of data collection among sites and between years such that the information from each site may contribute to a statewide understanding of the ecological effects of wind energy generation.

 

Web link: http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/40966.html

Download File(s):
drwindguide1207.pdf (132.57 kB)