As renewable energy continues to develop across the northeast, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with industry to reduce the effects of utility-scale wind turbines on threatened and endangered species.
Duke Energy Renewables will prepare a habitat conservation plan at its North Allegheny 35-turbine wind facility in Blair and Cambria counties for the long-term conservation of the endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), which may be added to the endangered species list. As Duke begins this process, the Service seeks public input from November 18 to December 18, 2014, on issues to consider in developing and evaluating the plan.
A habitat conservation plan is needed at the North Allegheny wind facility because the turbines can incidentally injure or kill bat species protected under the Endangered Species Act. The plan will outline actions the company will take to avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts to protected bat species. Once the plan is approved, the Service can permit the wind facility’s operations to continue in compliance with the ESA. The plan would also benefit other bats, such as eastern red bats, hoary bats, little brown bats, and big brown bats.
The Service will prepare an environmental assessment to analyze the effects of the pending draft habitat conservation plan and permit application. We seek input on:
- Biology, range, distribution, population size, and population trends of Indiana bats, northern long-eared bats, and other federally listed species that occur in Pennsylvania that could be affected by proposed covered activities;
- Relevant data and information concerning wind turbine operation and bat interactions; and
- Any other environmental issues that we should consider with regard to the covered activities and potential permit issuance.
The draft environmental assessment, plan and permit application will be released for public comment at a later date and before the Service determines whether it will issue a permit.
Indiana and northern long-eared bats live in the forested areas of the North Allegheny project. On September 26, 2011, a dead Indiana bat was found at the wind facility. Since that time, Duke has adapted turbine operations to avoid additional take of Indiana bats while they prepare a plan. Bat fatalities can be significantly reduced by decreasing turbine activity during low-wind periods at night, when bats are active and most vulnerable to turbines.
The Northeast Region of the Service has approved habitat conservation plans for two other wind energy projects—Beech Ridge Energy in West Virginia and Criterion Power Partners in Maryland.
More information:
- Starting November 18, 2014, read the notice at regulations.gov under docket number FWS-R5-ES-2014-0047, and comment by December 18, 2014.
- Find a copy of the notice and a project map at the Pennsylvania Field Office website.
- Learn more about white-nose syndrome and the northern long-eared bat and Indiana bat.
