Bird and Bat Assessment
Alaska is rich with renewable energy but a debate about wind turbines and their killing birds has been central to moving these projects forward. Accordingly, many renewable energy projects require studies to gauge the affects on fish and wildlife and the environment and to make recommendations to reduce the negative affects.
There is much yet to learn about the issue — why do birds and bats collide with turbines? What can be done to avoid these collisions? Is there really a problem at all? While many studies have been conducted, studies need to be done for each proposed location. For example, the Nikolski wind project was located based on local knowledge of eider flights, and no birds have been killed by the project.
The Sand Point wind project required two years of bird data collection before the Department of Energy approved the environment assessment and released the project funds. Bruce Wright did a follow-up investigation at the Sand Point wind turbine site in 2013 and found no evidence of birds being killed by the project. That is consistent with the bird study predictions.
Bats have not been reported in the Aleut region, but other regions in Alaska have bats and bat migrations. We know very little about bats in Alaska. New research is underway, and as we eagerly await the results.
There is much yet to learn about the issue — why do birds and bats collide with turbines? What can be done to avoid these collisions? Is there really a problem at all? While many studies have been conducted, studies need to be done for each proposed location. For example, the Nikolski wind project was located based on local knowledge of eider flights, and no birds have been killed by the project.
The Sand Point wind project required two years of bird data collection before the Department of Energy approved the environment assessment and released the project funds. Bruce Wright did a follow-up investigation at the Sand Point wind turbine site in 2013 and found no evidence of birds being killed by the project. That is consistent with the bird study predictions.
Bats have not been reported in the Aleut region, but other regions in Alaska have bats and bat migrations. We know very little about bats in Alaska. New research is underway, and as we eagerly await the results.