The American Wind Wildlife Institute The American Wind Wildlife Institute “Results Through Collaboration and Transparency” R Revolution: Oklahoma l i Okl h Wind Energy Conference Wind & Wildlife Panel Wind & Wildlife Panel December 2, 2008
Table of Contents Table of Contents • What is AWWI? • Why Getting Wind Right Matters • Challenges • Examples of Responsible Wind Development 2
What is AWWI? What is AWWI? • American Wind Wildlife Institute • Idea generated through American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Siting Committee in 2006 – Vetted through NGO/Industry/Agency process in 2007 – Pro-active, landscape versus project specific, reactive approach to addressing wildlife issues – Recognizes that wind industry is held to a higher development standard than traditional development than traditional development • First of kind, national, jointly governed 501c3 in Energy/Environment Intersection – Industry & NGOs working together early in industry growth curve to Industry & NGOs working together early in industry growth curve to chart responsible development road map of wind industry • $3M raised to pursue four major initiatives • Board of Directors Installed in October 2008 3
AWWI Founding Members AWWI Founding Members • AES Wind Energy gy • Iberdrola Renewables* • Association of Fish & • National Audubon Society* Wildlife Agencies* • Natural Resources Defense • BP Alternative Energy* • BP Alternative Energy* Council* Council* • Babcock & Brown • Nordic Windpower • enXco* • NRG Systems* • Clipper Windpower • Renewable Energy Systems Americas • E.on • The Nature Conservancy* • The Nature Conservancy • Environmental Defense E i t l D f Fund • The Sierra Club • GE Wind Energy* • Union of Concerned Scientists* • Horizon Wind Energy • Vestas Americas Note: * Indicates AWWI Board Member 4
AWWI Mission Statement AWWI Mission Statement The Mission of AWWI is to facilitate timely The Mission of AWWI is to facilitate timely and responsible development of wind energy while protecting wildlife and wildlife while protecting wildlife and wildlife habitat. We do this through research, mapping, mitigation, and public education mapping, mitigation, and public education on best practices in wind farm siting and habitat protection. habitat protection. 5
AWWI Initiatives AWWI Initiatives Mapping pp g Education/ Education/ Research R h Mitigation Miti ti Outreach/ Training Prioritize & fund urgent Create Risk Rating Cost effective and Put impacts in perspective research needs System for beneficial mitigation Inform public and decision responsible Create data repository Science-based criteria makers landscape scale landscape scale Commit to highest development Explore regional mitigation Industry and NGO academic standards solutions training/quality control Coordinate existing mapping efforts Guide application of GIS pp data 6
AWWI Progress on Initiatives g January 2008 January 2008 September 2008 September 2008 Outcomes/Status Mapping proposal Mapping proposal Jan. 14-15 Ja 5 M Mapping i Boulder, CO May 12-13 Minneapolis, MN Mitigation options Mitigation Understand research Research priorities and interests Outreach/ Over the past two years, attended 16 meetings in Branding AWWI Education 11 states and the District of Columbia. 7
Representative Types of Landscape Scale Research Landscape Scale Research Needs 8
Why Getting it Right Matters Why Getting it Right Matters • Environmental Threats at Unprecedented Levels p – Climate change – Biodiversity (wildlife and habitat) Loss y ( ) • Millennium Ecosystems Assessment- Losing Ecosystem Services at an unsustainable rate • Oklahoma – How many acres have been lost to existing development? • Wind industry is a long term steward of the Wi d i d t i l t t d f th landscape in rural communities • Predictable and sustainable economic development 9
Focus: Consequences of Ecosystem Ch Change for Human Well-being f H W ll b i 10
Why Getting it Right Matters cont. • Not doing it right will create new problems and slow or stop growth – Regulatory Realities: ESA listings, Migratory Bird Treaty Act – Increased permitting hurdles – More lawsuits from private landowners and NGOs M l i f i l d d NGO • The days of the developing the next best energy solution at the expense of the local and global environment have gotten us where we are where we are. • New Energy (Renewables) Solutions need to deliver multiple benefits to multiple stakeholders at different scales and must be developed in a responsible and sustainable fashion developed in a responsible and sustainable fashion. • Oklahoma has a chance to lead the New Energy Economy to further bolster its already stellar energy credentials-but a BAU development philosophy will not get us there development philosophy will not get us there. 11
Where is Oklahoma? Where is Oklahoma? • ~700 MW’s of new installations over the past few years p y • OG&E is stepping up to break transmission impasse • But……..Lesser Prairie Chicken challenges are very serious g y • Species on brink of being listed • Overlap with strong wind resources and lack of geographical flexibility versus surrounding states • Major top 5 issue nationally that wind industry is struggling with – Whooping Crane and Bat challenges are also emerging • Good news: Oklahoma has a good group of stakeholders • Good news: Oklahoma has a good group of stakeholders who are earnestly seeking to address these issues • Solution must provide a level playing field for industry Solution must provide a level playing field for industry participants 12
Wi d/Wildlif Wind/Wildlife Challenge Ch ll Example- Lesser Prairie Chicken Lesser Prairie Chicken 13
Examples of Responsible Wind E Energy Development D l • Off Site Voluntary Conservation Bank to Off Site Voluntary Conservation Bank to address Project Site Habitat Concerns – Kansas: Horizon Wind Energy Kansas: Horizon Wind Energy • Avian Bat Protection Plan (ABPP) – Multiple Projects: Iberdrola Renewables USA M l i l P j Ib d l R bl USA 14
Horizon Wind-Voluntary Conservation Bank Mer idian Way Wind F ar m 200 MW T T AR AR GE GE T T Conser vation Ar ea Initial Project Area 1GW 5 Different Projects 15 15 21 November 2008
Outcomes and Benefits • Outc o me s Outc o me s • Mo st ec o lo gic ally sensitive areas avo ided • 2 nd c ho ic e site had mo de rate habitat value with ec o no mic ally viable wind and transmissio n ac c ess • Re maining o n site impac ts addre sse d thro ugh a • Re maining o n site impac ts addre sse d thro ugh a 20,000 ac re o ff-site vo luntary c o nservatio n bank • Project participants: Horizon, Ranchland Trust of Kansas, The Nature Conservancy, Pheasants Forever, Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, US Fish & Wildlife Service, USDA-NRCS 16 16 21 Nove mbe r 2008
Outcomes & Benefits cont Outcomes & Benefits cont. • Benefits Benefits – Significant improvements in grassland bird habitat – Multi-stakeholder, best in class wind and Multi stakeholder best in class wind and conservation, project enabled – Strengthens the conservation partnerships between all Strengthens the conservation partnerships between all parties – Sets a high standard for ecological responsibility in Sets a high standard for ecological responsibility in wind energy development – Horizon recognizes ecological offsets as a component Ho izo ecog izes eco ogica o sets as a co po e t of wind energy development 17
Iberdrola Renewables (IBR) Iberdrola Renewables (IBR) Avian and Bat Protection Plan •Modeled on Avian Protection Plans developed by utilities to deal with impacts of transmission and di distribution lines on birds ib i li bi d •Corporate-level plan addresses how IBR plans, develops constructs and operates wind projects develops, constructs and operates wind projects •“Stepped down” to project-specific Plans for each wind project each wind project •Includes a commitment to reporting to the USFWS and responding to bird and bat impacts of p g p projects
What do these examples mean? • Responsible Wind Development can happen at large p p pp g scale • You can delineate high and low risk wildlife areas to give guidance to developers give guidance to developers • Mitigation Costs can be carried by most projects with minimal impact to economics • Need level playing field so that good actors acrue benefits and bad actors are punished • AWWI working to further vet out landscape scale • AWWI working to further vet out landscape scale responsible development solutions at national level through its four initiatives 19
20 Thank You
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