How clean energy can benefit the climate, communities and conservation | Audubon

The aim of nature conservation is to protect biodiversity and prevent species from becoming extinct. We often associate this work with conserving natural areas, but Audubon's science shows that bird populations are feeling the effects of climate change even in protected places like wildlife refuges . For example, the burrowing owl is expected to lose 14% of its current range if the global average temperature rises by 3 degrees Celsius. If we fail to reduce pollution and slow warming, many bird species will face extinction due to factors such as habitat loss and rising sea levels .

This is why climate action is about protection and why clean energy is essential to saving billions of birds. Microgrids and rooftop solar must be maximized as part of the transition, but utility-scale infrastructure is essential to achieving net-zero emissions. As deployment accelerates, conservation groups can play a key role in ensuring infrastructure is planned with both wildlife and people in mind.

The staff and departments from Audubon to the États-Unis are involved in the proposals for energy projects, solar photovoltaics and transmission to ensure that they avoid, minimize and manage impacts on unneeded areas and ends. Drawing on the best available scientific and mapping technologies, we work with developers, wildlife agencies and affected communities to identify potential impacts and ensure developments can occur quickly in less conflict-prone areas. This work also builds on our 2023 Birds and Transmission Report, which outlines the need to rapidly expand transmission capacity to shift renewable energy from resource-rich areas to population centers.

Community, conservation and climate issues must be considered at every stage of the acquisition and development process. This approach was first described in the Beyond Carbon-Free framework developed in 2021 by Audubon, The Nature Conservancy and LevelTen Energy. It is now a key element of a recent landmark agreement to promote large-scale solar development in the United States. Advocate for land conservation and support the interests of local communities.

Below are some ways conservation groups can get involved:

• Engage in "less adversarial" planning processes that determine the optimal location for the most efficient and timely approval.
• Collaborate with clean energy developers on research to better understand, prevent and minimize the impacts of wind and solar energy on wildlife.
• Submit comments on proposed projects and proposed regulations related to the permitting, financing, and deployment of clean energy and transportation infrastructure.
• Work with transportation and clean energy developers to implement responsible siting and operating practices.
• Encourage early and ongoing consultation with tribal nations and state and federal wildlife agencies.
• Promote coordination with all affected communities.

Local knowledge is essential and each project requires different considerations, but here are some of Audubon's key recommendations for development with the least impact on the birds and places that need them today and tomorrow:

• Follow the remedial hierarchy: avoid first, minimize later, and provide a compensatory remedy as a final step.
• Modernizing and increasing current transmission capacity through network expansion technologies (GET), such as: B. dynamic line ratings, power flow controllers, storage and retraining.
• Prioritize the use of previously disturbed areas and existing rights of way, where appropriate and in consultation with affected local communities.
• Avoid rare, unique and sensitive areas of high conservation value, such as grasslands, intact sagebrush steppes, native forests and wetlands, paying particular attention to migration routes, wildlife corridors and land fragmentation.
• Avoid or minimize impacts to species and habitats in Audubon Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and designated wildlife management areas.
• Consult early, often and meaningfully with tribal nations and state and federal wildlife agencies and coordinate with affected communities.
• Ensure effective permits under the Endangered Species Act, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as well as all state wildlife permits, when necessary.
• Place the device as close as possible to the transmission connection to avoid long distribution lines to the power grid (power connection lines) and roads.
• If possible, build underground pipes.
• Establish performance agreements with impacted communities, prioritizing tribal and environmental justice.

With a strong, sound scientific knowledge base and ongoing research and development of new technologies, there are many opportunities to reduce risks to wildlife. There is no such thing as zero-impact energy development, but we have achieved positive results by working together to avoid, minimize or offset these impacts through science-based solutions.

Together we can ensure that wildlife conservation and clean energy development go hand in hand. Because climate action is about protection, and by doing so we can protect the places and birds we care about.

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