The Bat Assessment Guidance for Wind Energy Facilities in Nebraska provides recommendations for pre- and post-construction surveys and data analysis that can help avoid or minimize bat fatalities at wind energy facilities in Nebraska.
The specific objectives are to:
- Determine bat activity patterns before and after the development of wind energy facilities;
- Evaluate the bat fatalities associated with operation of wind energy facilities; and
- Provide reliable information for siting and operation of current and future wind energy facilities in Nebraska.
Take Home Points:
- Consult early and often with the NGPC and the USFWS
- Feather wind turbine blades as a standard practice at all Nebraska wind energy facilities.
- At least one year of pre- and post-construction acoustic surveys are recommended.
- At least two years post construction mortality surveys are recommended.
- Data collection and analysis should be conducted by a trained bat biologist.
- Sharing data is recommended to help enhance recommendations for operational mitigation and siting.
![Eastern Red Bat. Photo by Keith Geluso.](http://snr.unl.edu/renewableenergy/sharedcode/affiliate_imgs/eastern%20red%20bat%20-%20geluso.jpg)
Eastern Red Bat. Photo by Keith Geluso.
For inquiries regarding proposed projects, questions about the environmental review process, and requests for environmental reviews, please contact:
Melissa Marinovich, Fish and Wildlife Specialist, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
melissa.marinovich@nebraska.gov, (402) 471-5422
Eliza Hines, Assistant Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
eliza_hines@fws.gov, (308)382-6468, Extension 204
To have bat survey protocols reviewed, please contact:
Mike Fritz, Zoologist, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
mike.fritz@nebraska.gov, (402) 471-5419