Wind Energy Guidance

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service supports careful development of renewable energy resources, such as wind energy. Oregon will continue to experience rapid development of its wind resources. Wind energy guidance has been developed to promote conservation of important wildlife resources while expanding the multiple environmental and economic benefits of wind energy.

Oregon’s Columbia Plateau Ecoregion Wind Energy Siting and Permitting Guidelines

The Wind Energy Siting and Permitting Guidelines (Guidelines) for Oregon's Columbia Plateau Ecoregion, including areas within Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Morrow and Umatilla counties is now available. The Guidelines provide recommendations for siting, designing and permitting wind projects in a manner that supports both the conservation of important wildlife and habitat resources and the realization of the multiple environmental and economic benefits of wind energy.

The Guidelines are the culmination of a unique collaboration between state and federal resource agencies, wind energy industry representatives, counties, environmental organizations and consultants. Until separate guidelines can be developed for wind project development in other areas of Oregon, the Fish and Wildlife Service recommends use of these Guidelines as a process roadmap during each step of a potential wind project’s development, construction, and operation.

Joint Agency Wind Energy Siting and Permitting Guidelines Letter
Oregon Columbia Plateau Ecoregion Wind Energy Siting and Permitting Guidelines