Wind Energy & Wildlife Regional Training (Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming)

The Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory will conduct a virtual Wind Energy & Wildlife Training on May 22-23 & 29-30, 2024. The training will address science and policies related to wind energy and wildlife, with a focus on Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.

Registration 

There is no registration fee for this event. You must register individually for each day of the event you plan to attend using the links below.

Register Here for Day 1 | Wednesday, May 22, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM MT

  1. Welcome + Introduction
  2. Wind Energy Technology & Current Deployment
  3. Wind Project Development Process: Non-wildlife Considerations
  4. Conservation Laws & Regulatory Overview in the Five States
  5. State Process for Development of Wind Energy

Register Here for Day 2 | Thursday, May 23, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM MT

  1. Siting Considerations in the Five States
  2. Eagles & Wind Energy

Register Here for Day 3 | Wednesday, May 29, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM MT

  1. Bats & Wind Energy
  2. Greater Sage Grouse, Lesser Prairie Chicken & Wind Energy

Register Here for Day 4 | Thursday, May 30, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM MT

  1. Migratory Birds & Wind with a Focus on Cranes & Grassland Birds
  2. Looking to the Future: Breakout + Next Steps

Training Goals and Outcomes 

  • Understand current wind energy development and projections in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, & Wyoming, including opportunities and challenges.  
  • Learn about:  
    • State of the science on wind energy and wildlife, focusing on bats, grouse, and eagles.  
    • Federal and state laws, guidance, and regulations.  
    • Strategies to reduce risk during siting, permitting, and operations.  
  • Explore opportunities for problem-solving and collaboration.  
  • Hands-on experience with field techniques and technologies for monitoring wildlife at wind energy projects  
    • Explore how data are collected  
    • Learn about how various technologies operate  

Support 

This Wind Energy & Wildlife Training is made possible thanks to financial support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technology Office and the input and guidance from the Workshop Advisory Committee, a group of wind-wildlife professionals from federal and state agencies, industry, and conservation-science organizations.