Conservation Programs  Bats & Wind Energy

Wind has been used to commercially produce energy in North America since the early 1970s and has been considered environmentally friendly.

Wind energy's ability to generate electricity without many of the environmental impacts associated with other energy sources (air pollution, water pollution, mercury emissions, and greenhouse gas emissions associated with global climate change) can significantly benefit birds, bats, and many other plant and animal species. However, the direct and indirect local impacts of wind plants on birds and bats continue to be an issue and widespread instances of mortality of birds and bats have been reported.

Unexpectedly high numbers of bat fatalities reported at wind energy sites on ridge tops in the eastern United States have heightened the urgency to understand problems and find solutions.

BCI Founder and President Merlin Tuttle and Jessica Kerns, University of Maryland, inspect bats killed at wind turbines.

The BWEC is an alliance of state and federal agencies, private industry, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations.

These organizations are interested in cooperating to develop and coordinate research opportunities and identify solutions to prevent or minimize threats to bats.

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