Wind Power

Windfarms pose different siting issues [PDF] than combustion-based electric generation facilities. They tend to require large areas of land, but disturb a limited portion of that acreage. Avian and bat mortality from collisions with the turbine blades, towers or related facilities is the best-documented natural resource impact of concern.

Site characterization studies are an important step in considering and evaluating potential windfarm locations. In this context, it consists of identifying habitat resources in the area, the communities and species likely to use them, and the numbers and timing (seasonal and daily) of use.

The Wisconsin DNR has developed draft guidelines to aid in the planning for utility-scale wind-electric generating facilities. Utility-scale wind installations are considered to be those with capacities greater than 500 kilowatts (kW) and more than five turbines in one location.

To evaluate the potential for negative impacts on wildlife, and ways to avoid them, the Department strongly recommends that wind developers come in early in the development of their projects to discuss these issues with staff members.

Wind farms larger than 100 mW are reviewed by the Public Service Commission. The Wisconsin DOA Energy Bureau has information on smaller-scale developments.

The DNR guidelines (July 2004) should be applied to identify and characterize the presence of resources that are considered sensitive to windfarm development in the area under consideration, and therefore aid developers in avoiding potentially significant adverse natural resource impacts.

The US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) has developed interim guidance for evaluating the wildlife impacts of proposed wind energy facilities. This guideline is useful as a framework for evaluating the potential risk to wildlife posed by new wind energy facilities (at least at a utility scale). The guidelines have not been finalized, and should be considered a work in progress. The FWS guidelines were developed for the western part of the country, and need to be adapted to other wildlife habitat settings, including the Upper Midwest.

Office of Energy experts recommend that the guidelines be applied to utility scale wind projects to evaluate their applicability to this part of the country, and on the reasonable assumption that they will help to focus evaluation of sites on important wildlife protection issues. We also recommend that potential wind developers, and their environmental consultants, discuss how to most effectively apply the FWS guidelines locally before proceeding. This guidance can be used together with the guidelines developed by the Department to the extent that they are compatible.

Data sources include maps of natural resource features, reports of breeding bird and Christmas bird surveys, general ecological literature reports and specific documents related to wind energy and its impacts on wildlife.

To help identify areas with good potential for energy development that have minimal potential for adverse impacts on natural resources, WDNR recommends that project proponents develop and use overlay maps, preferably on a GIS system, with the following resource areas delineated:

For more information on wind power please contact the OE renewable energy expert:
Steve Ugoretz
(608) 266-6673