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Environment

Utility & USFWS Work to Protect Bats & Eagles from Wind Farms

submitted
/
MidAmerican Energy
MidAmerican Energy wind turbines near North English, Iowa

After years of study, a federal agency is ready to use MidAmerican Energy to help protect wildlife from the effects of wind farms.

Credit submitted / MidAmerican Energy
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MidAmerican Energy
Geoff Greenwood, Media Relations Manager, MidAmerican Energy Company

Spokesman Geoff Greenwood says about five years ago, MidAmerican began working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Iowa DNR to study how wind turbines and blades affect bald eagles and bats.

The utility submitted its resulting habitat conservation plan to the fish and wildlife service which has given it preliminary approval.

The plan includes specific practices MidAmerican will implement to reduce death or injury to four species of bats.

MidAmerican's habitat conservation plan also addresses the effects of wind farms on eagles. The utility is educating landowners about eagles' behavior, and to remove carcasses which tend to attract them.

The utility's plan also includes money for two conservation funds, one to help bolster the population of bats and the other for eagles.

The Fish and Wildlife Service plans to issue a final ruling about the conservation plan early next month. And the public is invited to comment.

Credit https://www.fws.gov/midwest/rockisland/te/pdf/MEC%20Final%20HCP%202019-04-16.pdf / US Fish & Wildlife Service
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US Fish & Wildlife Service
A map on page 60 of the Final Habitat Conservation Plan, MidAmerican Energy Company, Iowa Wind Energy Project Portfolio

Officially, Michelle's title for 28 years was WVIK News Editor. She did everything there is to do in the newsroom and whatever was needed around the radio station. She also served as Acting News Director from September 2023 - January 2024.
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