MidAmerican files plan to reduce wind turbine strikes on bald eagles, bats
A new conservation plan and funding proposed by MidAmerican Energy Co. aims to help mitigate the number of bald eagles and bats killed by wind turbines.
The utility today filed a habitat conservation plan with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in which it proposes a series of measures to help minimize the number of eagles and bats affected by turbine strikes. MidAmerican also proposes to establish a $4.4 million bat conservation fund and a $1.6 million eagle conservation fund to support statewide mitigation projects.
The conservation plan aims to help protect four bat species, including two that are federally protected, in part by modifying nighttime wind turbine operations during certain months.
The plan also calls for educating landowners about removing animal remains that may attract eagles near wind turbines – reducing the odds of an eagle coming in contact with a wind turbine.