Research You Can Use

Modeling Potential Wildlife-Wind Energy Conflict Areas

Rural Pennsylvania counties are not missing out on the green movement currently sweeping the nation.  In the past few years, certain areas of Pennsylvania have been installing commercial wind energy facilities. However, a research report entitled Modeling Potential Wildlife-Wind Energy Conflict Areas explains that the relationship between wind turbines and wildlife habitats could hinder alternative energy growth for the state.

As our fossil fuel reserves become significantly depleted the importance of investing in alternative energy sources is increasingly significant.  Pennsylvania’s location amongst the Appalachian mountain range places it in a fairly economically viable area for wind farms.  As more of these “farms” begin to blanket acres of ridges, conflicts have arisen over the turbines’ threat to wildlife, particularly migrating birds and bats.  Though not as extensively studied, habitat fragmentation associated with the turbines disrupts the environment as well.

The chief purpose of this research is to determine areas where competition between wind energy expansion and habitat conservation might occur.  Using a computer-based geographic information system (GIS), the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) was able to distinguish prominent wildlife areas. Indices were created based on the amount and nature of biological resources in areas and valued from 0 to 100, the higher the value the more prone an area is to conflict.

The research concluded 235 Pennsylvania townships in 39 counties had conflicts between technology and nature.  The findings highlight the notion that wind speed cannot be the only determinate of commercial wind energy facility sites. Important among other considerations are wildlife habitats, available physical infrastructure such as roads, and erosion prone areas. 

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania report can be found in its entirety at:

http://www.ruralpa.org/wind_wildlife_report09.pdf

The companion manual consisting of maps and recommended planning options can be found at:

http://www.ruralpa.org/wind_manual09.pdf

Submitted by Addison Weinstein, Research Assistant to Dr. Theodore Alter.