Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines Near Completion
January 5, 2012
The Service anticipates the finalization of its voluntary Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines in early 2012. The Guidelines are designed to provide federal and state agencies, developers, and consultants with a process for planning, operating and monitoring wind energy facilities that minimize impacts to birds, bats and other wildlife. The final Guidelines will incorporate the advice of the Wind Turbine Guidelines Advisory Committee and comments from the public. The Committee included representatives of federal and state agencies, tribes, wind energy development organizations, and wildlife conservation organizations, and was formed to provide the Service with advice and recommendations on its land-based wind energy guidelines. A Notice of Availability will be published in the Federal Register to announce when the Guidelines are finalized. The Guidelines will be implemented on a voluntary basis immediately upon publication. Training on the Guidelines is under development and will be available within six months of publication.
Guidance on Wind Energy Development Published in Federal Register Today
February 18, 2011
On February 8, 2011, the Service released two draft documents containing guidelines designed to provide agency employees, developers, other federal agencies and state organizations information needed to make the best possible decisions in the review and selection of sites for wind energy facilities to avoid and minimize negative impacts to fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats. The guidelines have now been published in the Federal Register (February 18, 2011) and are now open for public comment for 90 days until May 19, 2011.
News Release
Federal Register Links:
Draft Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance
Draft Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines
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