AWWI’s 2017 Priorities: Advancing Wind-Wildlife Solutions Through Strategic Program Investments

The American Wind Wildlife Institute (AWWI) is moving ahead with our 2017 program – increasing investment in technology verification, a new focus on bats, and the American Wind Wildlife Information Center (AWWIC), among other top priorities.

AWWI’s technology verification program is bigger than ever, having been selected for negotiations for two funding awards from the U.S. Department of Energy. Over the next three years, AWWI will manage field evaluations of two eagle impact minimization detection and deterrent systems to determine their commercial viability at operational wind facilities.

AWWI is continuing our focus on the development and implementation of eagle impact mitigation models. In 2017, we will publish a vehicle strike reduction model, submit a prey habitat enhancement model, and create a comprehensive mitigation handbook of approved options for companies to utilize.

On bats, AWWI is now drafting a 5-year plan to guide the growth of our program. We are working to complete a risk model and distribution map for hoary bats in Ontario, which can be replicated for other bat species across North America. We are also exploring opportunities for technology verification projects on bat impact minimization systems.

With over 200 studies and more data than ever, AWWI will be conducting the first analysis of our post-construction fatality database of the American Wind Wildlife Information Center in 2017. Additionally, the AWWIC Library, released in the fall of 2016, will continue to be maintained and expanded with new resources throughout the year.

Finally, AWWI plans to complete and release the National Wind Wildlife Research Plan. This plan will direct AWWI’s program and outline wind-wildlife research priorities for the next 5 years.