Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute (REWI)

REWI is thrilled to have welcomed three new members to our?Board of Directors?over the last few months! Our Board is critical to facilitating REWI’s?#essentialcollaboration on our shared goals through a balanced membership drawn equally from the?#renewableenergy industry and?#science and?#conservation organizations, and we look forward to the perspectives our new members will provide. Check out what each of our new Board members are excited to see REWI accomplish! ?? Clay Crowder, Assistant Director, Wildlife Management Division at the Arizona Game and Fish Department, representing the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies ?? ?Sean Fitzgerald, Director of Environmental Services, NextEra Energy, Inc. ?? ?Laurie Williams, Director of the Beyond Coal Campaign,?Sierra Club Learn more about REWI's Board: https://lnkd.in/ezvXCVcY

? Countdown to #WWRM15: 2 Months Out! Join us this #November 12-15 in #CorpusChristi, #Texas for the 15th #Wind #Wildlife #Research #Meeting: Confronting the #climate and #biodiversity crises with a responsible transition to #windenergy. Topics Include: ? Assessing #ecological drivers to inform siting decisions ?Implications of new legislation on #monitoring and #mitigation requirements ?Minimization strategies for #eagles and #bats ?Emerging research on relative impacts of climate and wind on sensitive wildlife ?Many other topics relevant to siting and operating wind projects in the US and abroad Take advantage of our discounted #earlybird rates and ensure your participation in this pivotal event by securing your spot today: https://lnkd.in/eYrWmUtx

?? REWI On The Move: San Antonio, TX Last month, REWI Director of Research Eric Schauber and Wind Program Lead Shilo Felton convened a group of experts in San Antonio #Texas for a writing retreat to finalize a literature review on #hoarybat ecology relevant to decision making around #windenergy challenges. The week-long retreat was full of productive collaboration – and included a trip to Bat Conservation International Bracken Cave Preserve to see another species of long-distance migrating bats, Mexican free-tailed bats! Bat sky photo provided by Ted Weller Pictured: REWI’s Dr. Felton (L) and Dr.?Schauber (R) Pictured from left: REWI’s Dr. Felton; Dr. Amanda Hale, Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. (WEST); REWI’s Dr. Schauber;?Dr. Erin Baerwald, Baerwald Bat Lab; Ted Weller, U.S. Department of Agriculture

It’s not just humans working hard to study the effects of #PaintedBlades! K9 Conservationists?have been conducting avian fatality monitoring at?PacifiCorp's Glenrock/Rolling Hills facility in Wyoming, providing critical data on the effectiveness of painting one turbine blade black to reduce risk to eagles, other birds, and bats. Check out the team in action during REWI’s June site visit. Thanks to?PacifiCorp?for leading this important multi-partner study,?with support from REWI, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS),??U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Oregon State University, Invenergy, and NextEra Energy, Inc. Pictured: K9 Conservationist’s Heather Nootbaar (dog handler) and Scottie (dog); REWI’s Felton (R) with K9 Conservationist’s Blair Pfiefer (L, dog handler) and Buzzard (dog) #windenergy #wildlifeconservation

?? REWI in the Field: Painted Blades Project Last month, REWI Wind Program Lead Shilo Felton and Project Manager La' Portia Perkins visited the #PaintedBlades project site at?PacifiCorp’s Glenrock/Rolling Hills facility in Wyoming?- where 28 #windturbines have one #turbine blade painted black to evaluate the strategy’s effects on reducing risks to #birds. Thanks to?PacifiCorp?for leading this important multi-partner study,?with support from REWI,?US Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Oregon State University, Invenergy, and NextEra Energy, Inc. Pictured: REWI’s Perkins (L) and Felton (R); REWI team with PacifiCorp’s Annemarie Barber (L) and Nicholas Laney (R) #windenergy #wildlifeconservation #renewableenergy #research

?? Registration is #open for the 15th Wind Wildlife Research Meeting #WWRM15 ! Join REWI in #CorpusChristi #Texas November 12-15, 2024 to share and engage in the latest #science addressing the #risk of #windenergy to #wildlife and developing #solutions to avoid, minimize, and offset impacts. ?? Secure your spot early to take advantage of our discounted #earlybird rates and ensure your participation in this pivotal event: https://lnkd.in/eYrWmUtx

REWI is #hiring an Administrative Specialist! Interested in working at a unique #nonprofit in an expanding, #solutionsoriented field? Know someone who might be? View the job opening here:?https://lnkd.in/en2JdZMJ

?? REWI on the Move: Long Beach, CA REWI Solar Program Lead Joshua Ennen, Ph.D., CWB is speaking tomorrow at the Ecological Society of America (ESA) 2024 Annual Meeting in a joint session with U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) titled "INS 05 - Ecological Responses to the Rapid Energy Transition: Renewable Energy Ecology" ? The session brings together #scientists from around the world working in the #renewableenergy #ecology space to share and discuss: what we know, what we do not know, challenges, and successes in renewable energy ecology. Speakers bring expertise from #wind and #solar, as well as diverse perspectives from academic institutions, national laboratories, federal agencies, and the private and non-profit sectors. Topics will span #abiotic, #plant, #wildlife, and #ecosystem-level interactions, and set the stage for a discussion envisioning the future of renewable energy ecology. ? Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/ejeYGbQw

Headed to the WAFWA Sage and Columbian Sharp-tailed #Grouse Workshop in #Washington this week? Don't miss WEST biologists presenting results from from a Renewable Energy Wildlife Research Fund (REWRF) - sponsored project on greater #sagegrouse occurrence at a #solarenergy facility in #Wyoming this Thursday, August 8! To learn more about REWRF and the research it funds, reach out REWRF Project Manager Audrey Neubauer.

Edit: This webinar has been postponed to the 2025 Solar Webinar Series ?? Coming Up This Month: REWI Solar Webinar Series #3 Movement in #SolarFacilities in #NorthCarolina ? Join REWI on Thursday, August 29 to hear about?an ongoing study is investigating?#spatialinteractions between?#bobcats and?#solarfarms in?#NC ? Register Here:?https://lnkd.in/erCEbW2q #solarenergy #renewableeenergy #wildlifeconservation