New wind, solar guidelines aim to help wildlife

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department recently announced the availability of newly-developed wind and solar power guidelines aimed at helping alternative energy developers consider wildlife conservation in their project planning.

The new guidelines will assist energy developers in identifying potential impacts to wildlife and wildlife habitats from their proposed project development and potential alternatives to avoid, minimize, and/or mitigate for these negative impacts.

“Game and Fish recognizes the importance of renewable energy and supports the development of these facilities in Arizona,” says Game and Fish’s Habitat Branch Chief, Josh Avey. “However, as the department tasked with managing and conserving the public’s wildlife resources, it was important that we prepare these recommended guidelines to help developers consider and minimize their project’s impacts to wildlife during the early planning phase.”

The solar guidelines are organized around five of the key development stages: 1) wildlife protection regulations, 2) Arizona Game and Fish Department regulations and review, 3) gathering preliminary information and conducting site screening, 4) identifying potential impacts to wildlife, and 5) mitigating the impacts.

The wind guidelines include recommendations on: 1) preliminary screening of proposed wind energy projects, 2) pre?construction study design and methods, 3) assessing direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts to bats and birds in accordance with state and federal laws, 4) developing avoidance and minimization measures, 5) establishing appropriate mitigation, and 6) post-construction operations monitoring, analysis, and reporting methods.

While wind and solar energy are “green” in many respects, they have the potential to significantly impact wildlife. Wind turbines pose threats to birds and bats as they fly near the blades. Solar facilities require large areas of land and generally have impervious surface areas that block or reroute surface water flows. The facilities may also use significant amounts of groundwater to operate. The resulting changes in drainage patterns, storm water runoff, and depth to groundwater could result in significant negative impacts to wildlife and their habitats.

“Wildlife populations need large areas of interconnected habitat to survive. We are hopeful that by considering wildlife in the early planning stages, renewable energy developers can design projects that impact wildlife in the smallest way possible,” says Avey. “We encourage developers and planners to use these guidelines early in the planning process."

Habitat loss and fragmentation are leading causes of species extinctions. The department is working to protect interconnected networks of large natural areas in Arizona that support viable populations of wildlife, while providing ample opportunity for people to enjoy and benefit from the presence of wildlife.

To view these and other development-related guidelines, visit www.azgfd.gov/hgis/guidelines.aspx.