Meeting Proceedings Published March 2019 Prepared by Susan Savitt Schwartz National Wind Coordinating Collaborative c/o American Wind Wildlife Institute 1110 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 950 Washington, DC 20005-3544 Acknowledgments The meeting and agenda for the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative (NWCC) Wind Wildlife Research Meeting XII were planned by the American Wind Wildlife Institute (AWWI) with support from a Planning Committee of volunteers from NWCC stakeholders (see below). Dr. Taber Allison, AWWI’s Director of Research, chaired the Planning Committee and meeting. The Proceedings for the NWCC Wind Wildlife Research Meeting XII were developed based upon funding from the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, Managing and Operating Contractor for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy. AWWI wishes to acknowledge and thank the following companies, organizations, and individuals for their support for the meeting: Diamond Sponsor: Western EcoSystems Technology (WEST), Inc. Platinum Sponsors: Enercon • Pattern • Stantec Gold Sponsors: Apex • American Wind Energy Association • DTE Energy • SWCA • Nossaman • Tetra Tech Silver Sponsors: Burns McDonnell • Invernegy • Natural Resource Solutions, Inc. • National Renewable Energy Laboratory • NextEra Energy Resources Bronze Sponsors: Ecology and Environment • Electric Power Research Institute • Energy Renewal Partners • Environmental Resources Management • Longroad Energy • Minnesota Department of Commerce • Olsson • Shoener Environmental • Tradewind Energy • U.S. Geological Survey Members of the Planning Committee, who contributed extensive volunteer hours in planning this meeting, as well as all others who provided input: Abby Watson, Siemens • Abel Gyimesi, Bureau Waardenburg • Alvaro Camiña, Acrena • Amanda Hale, Texas Christian University • Bethany Straw, National Renewable Energy Laboratory • Caroline Jezierski, Nebraska Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit • Catherine Bowes, NWF • Catherine Jardine, Bird Studies Canada • Chris Hise, The Nature Conservancy • Chris Pendelbury, Natural Power • Christian Newman, EPRI • Christina Calabrese, EDP Renewables • Christy Johnson-Hughes, US Fish & Wildlife Service • Cris Hein, Bat Conservation International • Dale Strickland, WEST, Inc. • Dan Dalthorp, US Geological Survey • Danna Small, Pattern • Dave Phillips, Apex Clean Energy • David Bigger, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management • David Pereksta, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management • Ed Arnett, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership • Elise DeGeorge, National Renewable Energy Laboratory • Erin Liebermann, Invenergy • Finlay Bennett, Marine Science Scotland • Janine Baquie, NextEra • Jared Wilson, Marine Scotland • Jerry Roppe, Avangrid • Jocelyn Brown-Saracino, US Department of Energy • Joseph Platt, POWER Engineers • Julia Willmott, Normandeau • Karin Sinclair, National Renewable Energy Laboratory • Karyn Coppinger, Invenergy • Kate Williams, BRI • Kimberly Peters, DNV GL • Laura Morse, Orsted • Lesley Kordella, US Fish & Wildlife Service • Leslie New, University of Washington • Manuela Huso, US Geological Survey • Mark Humpert, Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies • Mary Boatman, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management • Michael Schirmacher, Bat Conservation International • Mike Clayton, Avangrid • Mona Khalil, US Geological Survey • Paul Rabie, WEST, Inc. • Rachel London, US Fish & Wildlife Service • Regina Bispo, ISPA – Instituto Universitário • Rhett Good, WEST, Inc. • Rich NWCC Wind Wildlife Research Meeting XII Proceedings i Davis, Minnesota Dept. of Commerce • Steve Pelletier, Stantec • Tracey Borneman, US Fish & Wildlife Service • Wally Erickson, WEST, Inc. Those who volunteered their time to review submitted abstracts. The meeting volunteers who offered their time to support the meeting logistics. About the NWCC The National Wind Coordinating Collaborative (NWCC) was formed in 1994 to provide a neutral forum for a wide range of stakeholders – including government agencies, industry, conservationists, academics, and the general public – to pursue the shared objective of developing environmentally, economically, and politically sustainable commercial markets for wind power in the U.S. Today, the activities of the NWCC focus solely on interactions between wind energy and wildlife. The NWCC is a forum for outreach and collaboration on understanding interactions and solving challenges for wind energy and wildlife, and as needed, facilitates coordinated activities focused on establishing research priorities and supporting research on species of particular interest for wind energy development. The NWCC is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Energy Technologies Office through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and is facilitated by AWWI, an independent non-profit organization. Abstract Wind energy is recognized as a key component of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy production. By generating electricity with lower carbon emissions and water use than fossil fuels, wind energy benefits birds, bats, and many other animal and plant species. Yet wind energy development and operation, like most human activities including other forms of energy generation, can pose risks to wildlife. These proceedings document current research pertaining to wind energy-related wildlife fatalities; habitat and behavioral impacts at the project level as well as cumulative and landscape-scale impacts; and avoidance, minimization, and mitigation strategies and technologies. As the window of opportunity to prevent the most catastrophic consequences of climate change narrows, these proceedings reflect discussions among stakeholders – scientists, wildlife agencies, wind energy developers, and conservation organizations – about how to balance the need to understand and mitigate wind energy impacts with the need to expedite responsible development of wind energy. Suggested Citation Format This volume: PNWWRM XII. 2019. Proceedings of the Wind-Wildlife Research Meeting XII. St. Paul, MN November 28-30, 2018. Prepared for the Wildlife Workgroup of the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative by the American Wind Wildlife Institute, Washington, DC, Susan Savitt Schwartz, ed. 148 pp. Preceding volumes: PNWWRM XI. 2017. Proceedings of the Wind-Wildlife Research Meeting XI. Broomfield, CO November 30 - December 2, 2016. Prepared for the Wildlife Workgroup of the National Wind Coordinating NWCC Wind Wildlife Research Meeting XII Proceedings ii Collaborative by the American Wind Wildlife Institute, Washington, DC, Susan Savitt Schwartz, ed. 168 pp. PNWWRM X. 2015. Proceedings of the Wind-Wildlife Research Meeting X. Broomfield, CO December 2- 5, 2014. Prepared for the Wildlife Workgroup of the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative by the American Wind Wildlife Institute, Washington, DC, Susan Savitt Schwartz, ed. 139 pp. PNWWRM IX. 2013. Proceedings of the Wind-Wildlife Research Meeting IX. Broomfield, CO November 28-30, 2012. Prepared for the Wildlife Workgroup of the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative by the American Wind Wildlife Institute, Washington, DC, Susan Savitt Schwartz, ed. 151 pp. PNWWRM VIII. 2011. Proceedings of the Wind-Wildlife Research Meeting VIII. Lakewood, CO October 19-21, 2010. Prepared for the Wildlife Workgroup of the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative by RESOLVE, Inc., Washington, DC, Susan Savitt Schwartz, ed. 191 pp. PNWWRM VII. 2009. Proceedings of the Wind-Wildlife Research Meeting VII. Milwaukee, WI October 28-29, 2008. Prepared for the Wildlife Workgroup of the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative by RESOLVE, Inc., Washington, DC, Susan Savitt Schwartz, ed. 116 pp. PNWWRPM VI. 2007. Proceedings of the NWCC Wildlife Workgroup Research Planning Meeting VI. San Antonio, TX November 14-15, 2006. Prepared for the Wildlife Workgroup of the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative by RESOLVE, Inc., Washington, DC, Susan Savitt Schwartz, ed. 138 pp. POWIWD-V. 2005. Proceedings of the Onshore Wildlife Interactions with Wind Developments: Research Meeting V. Lansdowne, VA November 3-4, 2004. Prepared for the Wildlife Subcommittee of the National Wind Coordinating Committee by RESOLVE, Inc., Washington, DC, Susan Savitt Schwartz, ed. 120 pp. PNAWPPM-IV. 2001. Proceedings of the National Avian-Wind Power Planning Meeting IV, Carmel, CA, May 16-17, 2000. Prepared for the Avian Subcommittee of the National Wind Coordinating Committee by RESOLVE, Inc., Washington, DC, Susan Savitt Schwartz, ed., 179 pp. PNAWPPM-III. 2000. Proceedings of the National Avian-Wind Power Planning Meeting III, San Diego, CA, May 1998. Prepared for the Avian Subcommittee of the National Wind Coordinating Committee by LGL, Ltd., King City, Ont., 202 pp. PNAWPPM-II. 1996. Proceedings of the National Avian-Wind Power Planning Meeting II, Palm Springs, CA, September 1995. Prepared for the Avian Subcommittee of the National Wind Coordinating Committee by RESOLVE, Inc., Washington, DC, and LGL, Ltd., King City, Ont., 152 pp. PNAWPPM. 1995. Proceedings of the National Avian-Wind Power Planning Meeting IV, Denver, CO, July 1994. Repot DE95-004090. RESOLVE, Inc., Washington, DC, and LGL, Ltd., King City, Ont., 145 pp. Ordering Information These Proceedings are available in PDF format with accompanying PowerPoint presentations available as separate pdf files. Proceedings may be downloaded from the NWCC website: www.nationalwind.org. Disclaimer Some of the presentations described in the Proceedings of the Wind Wildlife Research Meeting