The Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (REWI) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will conduct a virtual Wind Energy & Wildlife Training on May 22-23 & 29-30, 2024. The training will address science and policies related to wind energy and wildlife, with a focus on Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
Agenda & Speakers
Day 1 | Wednesday, May 22, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM MT
- Welcome + Introduction
- Wind Energy Technology & Current Deployment
- Paul Veers, Senior Research Fellow and Chief Engineer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory National Wind Technology Center
- Jay Diffendorfer, Research Ecologist, United States Geological Survey
- Jeff Clerc, Research Biologist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Moderator)
- Wind Project Development Process: Non-wildlife Considerations
- Andrew Pinger, Director of Environmental Affairs and Permitting, Scout Clean Energy
- Joe Rand, Energy Policy Researcher, Energy Markets and Policy, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Laura Dempsey, Research Biologist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory National Wind Technology Center (Moderator)
- Conservation Laws & Regulatory Overview in the Five States
- Laurel Hill, Regional Energy and Infrastructure Coordinator U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region
- Quintana Hayden, Senior Director, Wildlife and Federal Lands, American Clean Power Association
- Jayme Lopez, Interagency Liaison, United States Bureau of Land Management
- Jeff Clerc, Research Biologist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Moderator)
- State Process for Development of Wind Energy
- Karen Voltura, Energy Liaison and Land Use Specialist, Southeast Region, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- Lauren Throop, Wildlife Biologist, Wyoming Game & Fish Department
- Nicole Nielson, Wildlife Impact Analysis Coordinator, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
- Ginny Seamster, Assistant Chief for Technical Guidance, Wildlife Management Division, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
- Laura Zebehazy, Ecological & Environmental Planning Program Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- Laura Dempsey, Research Biologist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory National Wind Technology Center (Moderator)
Day 2 | Thursday, May 23, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM MT
- Siting Considerations in the Five States
- Misti Sporer, Environmental Director, Deriva Energy
- Anthony Lopez, Senior Researcher, Geospatial Data Science Group, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Strategic Energy Analysis Center
- Chris Menges, Director of Climate Action, Colorado, The Nature Conservancy
- Shilo Felton, Senior Scientist & Wind Program Lead, Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (Moderator)
- Eagles & Wind Energy
- Chris Farmer, Principal Onshore Biologist, Ørsted
- Bryan Bedrosian, Conservation Director, Teton Raptor Center
- Robb Diehl, Research Ecologist, United States Geological Survey
- Sherry Liguori, Environmental Manager, Rocky Mountain Power
- Kylan Frye, Biologist (Regulations), United States Fish & Wildlife Service
- Brooke Marcus, Partner, Nossaman LLP
- Isabel Gottlieb, Senior Research Manager/Scientist, Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (Moderator)
Day 3 | Wednesday, May 29, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM MT
- Bats & Wind Energy
- Amanda Hale, Principal Biologist, Western Ecosystems Techology, Inc.
- Jay Diffendorfer, Research Ecologist, United States Geological Survey
- Matthew Fullerton, Renewable Energy Coordinator/Regional Bat Coordinator, United States Fish & Wildlife Service
- Ryan Butryn, Senior Information Science Manager, Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute
- Jeff Clerc, Research Biologist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Sara Weaver, Principal, Natural Resources Director, Bowman Consulting
- Cris Hein, Senior Project Leader, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Moderator)
- Greater Sage Grouse, Lesser Prairie Chicken & Wind Energy
- Cameron Aldridge, Research Ecologist, United States Geological Survey, Colorado State University
- John McLaughlin, Upland Game Bird Program Leader, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
- Yuki Hamada, Biophysical Remote Sensing Scientist, Argonne National Laboratory
- Jeffrey Beck, Professor, Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Wyoming
- Jonathan Hayes, Executive Director, Audubon Southwest
- Wayne Walker, Principal, Common Ground Capitol, LLC
- Pat Deibert, Sage-Grouse Conservation Coordinator, United States Bureau of Land Management
- Lauren Throop, Wildlife Biologist, Wyoming Game & Fish Department
- Eric Schauber, Director of Research, Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (Moderator)
Day 4 | Thursday, May 30, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM MT
- Migratory Birds & Wind with a Focus on Cranes & Grassland Birds
- Matt Webb, Avian Ecologist, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
- Kevin McAbee, Whooping Crane Coordinator, United States Fish & Wildlife Service
- Adam Cernea Clark, Director of Permitting and Policy Strategy, Pattern Energy Group
- Shilo Felton, Senior Scientist & Wind Program Lead, Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (Moderator)
- Looking to the Future: Breakout + Next Steps
Training Goals and Outcomes
- Understand current wind energy development and projections in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, & Wyoming, including opportunities and challenges.
- Learn about:
- State of the science on wind energy and wildlife, focusing on bats, grouse, and eagles.
- Federal and state laws, guidance, and regulations.
- Strategies to reduce risk during siting, permitting, and operations.
- Explore opportunities for problem-solving and collaboration.
Support
This Wind Energy & Wildlife Training is made possible thanks to financial support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office and the input and guidance from the Workshop Advisory Committee, a group of wind-wildlife professionals from federal and state agencies, industry, and conservation-science organizations.