Renewable energy vs. wildlife conservation - Solar, Wind and Land: Conflicts in Renewable Energy Development - page 79

life spans that mature late and have low reproduction rates are particularly
vulnerable to development impacts because it can take longer for their
populations to rebound. 35 Even an animal's physical traits can make it more
or less susceptible to danger from a given renewable energy project. For
example, wind turbines can be particularly hazardous to certain bat species
that seem to be unusually attracted to spinning wind turbine blades. 36
Strategies for mitigating renewable energy's impacts on wildlife
When there is significant risk that a proposed renewable energy project
could disrupt a vulnerable wildlife species, government officials are likely to
seek modifications to the development plan aimed at avoiding or mitigating
those impacts. Such changes can take a wide range of forms, from minor
design tweaks to total relocation of the project.
Onsite mitigation measures
Relatively minor schematic changes can often allow developers to reduce
the potential adverse impacts of a renewable energy project on habitats
and the surrounding natural environment. Over the years, researchers
have identified several such onsite mitigation strategies. Some of these
strategies are relatively easy and inexpensive to implement and are even
promoted within the wind energy industry itself. However, some other
onsite mitigation strategies can greatly diminish a project's profitability and
even doom a project altogether. Negotiations between government siting
officials and developers often involve some discussion of both types of
onsite mitigation measures.
Some wildlife impact mitigation strategies in the context of renewable
energy development involve siting and design elements implemented at the
time of construction, while other strategies require ongoing implementation
throughout the life span of a renewable energy project. For wind energy
projects, this latter category of mitigation measures includes such things as
turning off turbines during certain bird or bat migration periods. 37 Unlike
design-based mitigation requirements, these ongoing mitigation efforts
cannot be enforced solely at a project's final completion inspection. Instead,
they require at least periodic monitoring, which can make them relatively
more costly in practice.
Offsite mitigation measures
Increasingly, governments are demanding that developers make offsite
mitigation commitments in connection with renewable energy projects as
well. These commitments generally require developers to somehow offset
certain wildlife impacts of their projects through activities away from the
project site.