In a new plan filed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Des Moines, Iowa-based MidAmerican Energy Co. has proposed a series of measures to help minimize how turbines may impact bald eagles and four bat species at Iowa wind farms.
The company’s habitat conservation plan reflects insights learned from a four-year research effort covering most of MidAmerican Energy’s wind fleet.
The plan aims to help protect four bat species, including two that are federally protected, by modifying nighttime wind turbine operations during certain months and making additional operational changes at four wind farms where researchers found signs of increased bat activity in the area.
The proposed changes involve adjusting a turbine’s cut-in speed, the wind speed at which a turbine begins to spin and produce energy. Studies show the adjustment can minimize bat fatalities, according to the company, which adds that the changes will slightly decrease electric generation output.
The plan also proposes measures to reduce impacts on bald eagles that may be present near MidAmerican Energy wind farms. It calls for training wind turbine technicians on wildlife search protocols during turbine visits and educating landowners about removing animal remains that may attract eagles near wind turbines.
In addition to modifying wind turbine operations, MidAmerican Energy has proposed to establish a $4.4 million bat conservation fund and a $1.6 million eagle conservation fund to support statewide mitigation projects to offset any impacts to those species.
The company seeks a 30-year U.S. government permit to allow for an average of 10 turbine-related incidental bald eagle “takes” – or deaths – per year across its Iowa service territory. The permit would account for less than a half percent of the eagle population that could be affected by MidAmerican Energy wind farms, the company notes. The plan also calls for a take permit for four bat species.
“We understand that even though wind energy is clean and renewable, it impacts wildlife,” says Jenny McIvor, vice president of environmental programs for MidAmerican Energy. “That’s why we’ve worked so hard and spent $15 million to study wildlife impacts at our wind facilities and tailor a conservation plan that specifically addresses those impacts.”
In November 2014, MidAmerican Energy, along with the FWS and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, began a series of studies to determine how wind farms can impact bald eagles and Indiana, northern long-eared, little brown and tri-colored bats. The studies examined where sensitive bat species and bald eagles appear near MidAmerican Energy wind farms and evaluated impacts to these species.
MidAmerican Energy built its first wind turbine in 2004 and now operates more than 2,100 turbines at 27 wind farms across Iowa. Last year, the company generated renewable energy equal to about 50% of its Iowa customers’ annual use and announced plans to expand it to 100% by the end of 2021.
