Summary of Wind Power Interactions with Wildlife

Hatchet Ridge, Pattern Energy

REWI compiles the latest research on interactions between renewable energy and wildlife

Wind energy benefits the environment by generating electricity without releasing carbon or water and air pollutants. Wind energy also requires little water to produce electricity when compared to carbon-emitting sources of electricity production. However, the siting and operation of wind energy can present a risk to wildlife, particularly individual birds and bats.

Wind Turbine Interactions with Wildlife and Their Habitats: A Summary of Research Results and Priority Questions summarizes publicly available information about the adverse impacts of land-based wind power on wildlife in North America and the status of our knowledge regarding how to avoid or minimize these impacts.

The information in this summary has undergone expert review and is updated annually to incorporate new results as they become publicly available. The summary includes in-text citations. Download a PDF of the full citations.

Last updated with latest publicly available information: September 2021

Explore what we know about developing land-based wind energy in the U.S. while protecting wildlife and their habitats in REWI’s Guide to Wind Energy & Wildlife.

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AWWI-Wind-Power-Wildlife-Interactions-Summary-2021

Suggested Citation: American Wind Wildlife Institute (AWWI). 2021. Wind turbine interactions with wildlife and their habitats: a summary of research results and priority questions. Viewed [date] at [link].