The Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory 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.
Registration
There is no registration fee for this event. You must register individually for each of the four days you plan to attend using the links below.
Agenda & Speakers
Register Here for 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
- Joseph 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
- Laura Hill, Biologist, United States Fish & Wildlife Service
- Quintana Hayden, Senior Director, Wildlife and Federal Lands, American Clean Power Association
- Layme 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
- Dr. 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)
Register Here for 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
- Dr. 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)
Register Here for 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
- Dr. 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)
Register Here for 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
- Dr. 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.