Siting
Significantly increasing the production of renewable energy requires a sound understanding of the considerations involved in siting wind energy facilities. The NWCC provides a forum for the discussion of siting and permitting considerations associated with potential impacts to the environment, community, and existing resources or infrastructure.
The NWCC periodically hosts technical siting seminars at which experts share state-of-the-art research on the most critical issues for siting wind facilities and the technologies to address these issues. Meeting proceedings are published as reference documents containing research literature, lessons learned, and best practices for siting wind facilities. These summaries guide decision makers as they develop permitting and zoning policies to balance national energy needs with local considerations.
NWCC News
After a three day meeting on March 2-4, the Wind Turbine Guidelines Federal Advisory Committee reached consensus on draft wind turbine guideline recommendations on minimizing the impacts of land-based wind farms on wildlife and habitat. Click the link to read the complete U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release.
Over 70 leaders from the transmission, renewables, and wildlife communities met in Washington, DC, on February 22 for the Renewables and Transmission Forum: Transition to a Reduced Carbon Energy Economy, hosted by the NWCC. Participants had the opportunity to engage in a focused dialogue about the inter- and intra-regional opportunities and challenges to integrate renewables on to the grid.
The new Sage Grouse Collaborative will hold its first Steering Committee meeting on February 3-4 in Boulder, CO.