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Wind Energy Services |
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WEST has been a leader in the field of wind power impact assessment, monitoring, natural resources research, and permitting of wind energy development since 1994. WEST has participated in various aspects of wind projects throughout the U.S. and has played a leading role in understanding, assessing, and placing into perspective the impacts of wind projects on wildlife and habitat using scientifically credible and defensible monitoring and research methods. WEST has developed risk assessments for proposed wind energy facilities, which incorporate comparable datasets and meta-analyses on multiple spatial scales and for different taxonomic groups. WEST has successfully worked for all stakeholders involved in wind issues, including state and federal agencies, industry, consultants, utilities, and conservation organizations.
WEST has a demonstrated record of accomplishment for developing new field and analytical techniques for dynamic and emerging industries or studies. We have also shown a proven ability to work with and adapt new technologies, including Detect, Inc. Merlin automated radar systems and Wildlife Acoustics Songmeter SM2 acoustic monitoring devices, for offshore application. WEST has utilized Wildlife Acoustic TM Songmeters for acoustic monitoring of nocturnal migration. These devices could be adapted for use in an offshore environment to study bird and bat species composition and activity at proposed offshore sites during diurnal, as well as nocturnal, sampling periods. The use of TitleyTM Anabat acoustic bat monitoring devices is also a highly effective means to collect activity information during the spring and fall migration seasons. Anabats would provide a comparable index of bat activity to terrestrial projects located near the Atlantic Ocean and Great Lakes.
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EXPERTISE AND SERVICES
Site Characterization Studies, Phase One Risk Assessments, Critical Environmental Issues Analyses
Baseline Avian and Bat Research Studies and Assessments
Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Species Surveys
Biological Assessments and Habitat Conservation Plans for Federally Listed Threatened and Endangered Species.
State Incidental Take Permit Application, e.g. New York State Article 11
Bat and Avian Acoustic Surveys; Marine Radar Surveys
Permitting, Siting Analyses, Environmental Impact Studies
Construction Monitoring and Environmental Training
Post-Construction Impacts Monitoring; Research Studies
Mitigation, Reclamation, and Re-vegetation Planning
On-Shore and Off-Shore Studies
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REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS AND RESEARCH STUDIES
- Design and analysis of bird surveys, development of a bird/turbine collision model, compilation of available bat information and completion of an avian and bat risk assessment for the proposed Long Island Offshore Wind Park (LIOWP)
- Post-construction monitoring study investigating and evaluating biological indicators of high risk for collision of nocturnal migrants along the Texas Gulf Coast using Merlin radar system, visibility sensors and other possible risk indicators
- Collision risk model development, impact assessment, HCP input and monitoring plan development for the marbled murrelet at the Radar Ridge Wind Project in Pacific Northwest
- Pre-construction bird and bat studies for a proposed coastal wind turbine for the Sea Girt National Guard  Training Center, Sea Girt, New Jersey
- Pre-construction bird and bat studies for the Mount Storm Project in West Virginia
- Investigation of factors potentially affecting collision risk at San Gorgonio and Tehachapi Pass WRA's, California
- Effects of UV reflective paint on avian mortality, Foote Creek Rim Wind Project, Wyoming
- Nocturnal marine radar surveys, raptor migration surveys, breeding bird surveys, winter waterfowl and raptor surveys and acoustic bat surveys. Mist-netting and radio tracking surveys for Indiana bats and preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment and Biological Assessment at the St. Lawrence Windpower Project, New York
- Bat and wind turbine interactions at the Buffalo Ridge Wind Project, Minnesota
- Site Characterization Study and nocturnal marine radar survey, raptor migration survey, breeding bird survey, acoustic bat surveys and sensitive species surveys. Preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment and post-construction monitoring plan for the Arkwright Summit Wind Project, New York
- Grassland bird displacement impacts at the Stateline Wind Project, Oregon/Washington
- Nocturnal marine radar surveys, raptor migration surveys, breeding bird surveys, winter waterfowl and raptor surveys and acoustic bat surveys. Mist-netting and radio tracking surveys for Indiana bats and preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment at the Cape Vincent Wind Project, New York
- Mountain Plover population studies, Foote Creek Rim Wind Project, Wyoming
- Sage Grouse telemetry study, Simpson Ridge Wind Project, Wyoming
- Programmatic Habitat Conservation Plan for Whooping Cranes and Lesser Prairie Chickens, American Wind Energy Association
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INVITED EXPERTISE
WEST personnel have been invited speakers at numerous wind-wildlife meetings nationwide. WEST personnel have served as technical experts for the Federal Advisory Committee, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Virginia Regulatory Advisory Panel, the American Wind Energy Association, National Academy of Sciences Resource Council, and the National Wind Coordination Collaborative.
WEST personnel have solid working relationships with USFWS and state wildlife agency personnel along the Atlantic coast the Great Lakes. They have presented papers and been invited speakers at national meetings of the North American Symposium on Bat Research, American Wind Energy Association, The Wildlife Society, Partners in Flight, Bat Wind Energy Cooperative, the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative, Northern Arizona University Renewable Energy Department, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and American Ornithologist Union.
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GENERAL SERVICES EXPERIENCE FOR WIND PROJECTS
WEST has provided the following services at wind projects throughout the U.S.:
avian, bat, wildlife, vegetation, and wetland surveys - risk and impact assessments - ecological study plans - ecological studies - mitigation and monitoring plans - monitoring and research studies - Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) - fatal flaw analysis -statistical analysis - GIS mapping - Conditional Use Permit Applications (CUP) - Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) - Environmental Assessments (EA) - Biological Assessments (BA) - USFWS Consultation - wind turbine siting. |
WILDLIFE AND VEGETATION STUDY EXPERIENCE
WEST has conducted an extensive variety of wildlife studies at wind projects throughout the U.S. Studies completed for coastal terrestrial projects such as Sea Girt have included comprehensive nocturnal migration studies incorporating marine (x-band) radar systems, night vision surveys, acoustic bird monitoring and acoustic bat monitoring. Diurnal surveys for birds have included fixed point avian use surveys, raptor migration surveys, breeding bird surveys, avian area surveys, waterfowl and over-wintering raptor surveys. WEST has designed and conducted surveys to measure indirect effects of wind-energy on birds using line-distance sampling and a Before/After Control Impact design during pre- and post-construction periods.
 WESThas designed and conducted surveys for sensitive species including state and federally listed bird and bat species such as piping plover and Indiana bat. WEST has extensive experience completing post-construction surveys designed to assess mortality impacts of commercial wind energy facilities on birds and bats.
WEST has developed a sophisticated peer-reviewed collision risk model that is highly useful for cases when mortality information does not exist (e.g., offshore). WEST, Inc. has been an international leader in the development of field methods and statistical analysis of operational impacts of wind turbines on wildlife. Post-construction field methods have incorporated carcass searches and bias trials to assess searcher efficiency and scavenger removal.
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REPRESENTATIVE WIND POWER CLIENTS
- Acciona
- AECOM
- Apex Wind
- Bat Conservation International
- BP Wind Energy, North America
- Bonneville Power
- Administration
- CH2M Hill
- Distributed Generating Systems
- Dominion Power
- Electric Power Research Institute
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- Energy Northwest
- enXco
- ERM
- Eurus Energy America Corporation
- FPL Energy, Inc.
- Horizon Wind Energy
- Iberdrola
- Invenergy
- Kittitas , Klickitat Counties, Washington
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- National Wind Coordinating
Committee
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- PacifiCorp
- Renewable Energy Systems
- Renewable Northwest Project
- SeaWest Windpower, Inc.
- Shell Wind Energy
- Third Planet Windpower
- URS
- Xcel Energy
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