Site Wind Right: Identifying Low-Impact Wind Development Areas in the Central United States
To help avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change, society needs to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century. Wind energy provides a clean, renewable source of electricity; however, improperly sited wind facilities pose known threats to wildlife populations and contribute...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Land |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/4/462 |
| _version_ | 1797410528821248000 |
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| author | Chris Hise Brian Obermeyer Marissa Ahlering Jessica Wilkinson Joseph Fargione |
| author_facet | Chris Hise Brian Obermeyer Marissa Ahlering Jessica Wilkinson Joseph Fargione |
| author_sort | Chris Hise |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To help avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change, society needs to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century. Wind energy provides a clean, renewable source of electricity; however, improperly sited wind facilities pose known threats to wildlife populations and contribute to degradation of natural habitats. To support a rapid transition to low-carbon energy while protecting imperiled species, we identified potential low-impact areas for wind development in a 19-state region of the central U.S. by excluding areas with known wildlife sensitivities. By combining maps of sensitive habitats and species with wind speed and land use information, we demonstrate that there is significant potential to develop wind energy in the region while avoiding significant negative impacts to wildlife. These low-impact areas have the potential to yield between 930 and 1550 GW of name-plate wind capacity. This is equivalent to 8–13 times current U.S. installed wind capacity. Our analysis demonstrates that ambitious low-carbon energy goals are achievable while minimizing risks to wildlife. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:31:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ef23a722319a47879b2333d67c84a56b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:31:21Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-ef23a722319a47879b2333d67c84a56b2023-12-03T13:35:47ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2022-03-0111446210.3390/land11040462Site Wind Right: Identifying Low-Impact Wind Development Areas in the Central United StatesChris Hise0Brian Obermeyer1Marissa Ahlering2Jessica Wilkinson3Joseph Fargione4The Nature Conservancy, Arnett, OK 73832, USAThe Nature Conservancy, Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845, USAThe Nature Conservancy, Moorehead, MN 56560, USAThe Nature Conservancy, Amherst, MA 01002, USAThe Nature Conservancy, Minneapolis, MN 55415, USATo help avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change, society needs to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century. Wind energy provides a clean, renewable source of electricity; however, improperly sited wind facilities pose known threats to wildlife populations and contribute to degradation of natural habitats. To support a rapid transition to low-carbon energy while protecting imperiled species, we identified potential low-impact areas for wind development in a 19-state region of the central U.S. by excluding areas with known wildlife sensitivities. By combining maps of sensitive habitats and species with wind speed and land use information, we demonstrate that there is significant potential to develop wind energy in the region while avoiding significant negative impacts to wildlife. These low-impact areas have the potential to yield between 930 and 1550 GW of name-plate wind capacity. This is equivalent to 8–13 times current U.S. installed wind capacity. Our analysis demonstrates that ambitious low-carbon energy goals are achievable while minimizing risks to wildlife.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/4/462wind energyturbineconservationbiodiversitysitingland use |
| spellingShingle | Chris Hise Brian Obermeyer Marissa Ahlering Jessica Wilkinson Joseph Fargione Site Wind Right: Identifying Low-Impact Wind Development Areas in the Central United States Land wind energy turbine conservation biodiversity siting land use |
| title | Site Wind Right: Identifying Low-Impact Wind Development Areas in the Central United States |
| title_full | Site Wind Right: Identifying Low-Impact Wind Development Areas in the Central United States |
| title_fullStr | Site Wind Right: Identifying Low-Impact Wind Development Areas in the Central United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Site Wind Right: Identifying Low-Impact Wind Development Areas in the Central United States |
| title_short | Site Wind Right: Identifying Low-Impact Wind Development Areas in the Central United States |
| title_sort | site wind right identifying low impact wind development areas in the central united states |
| topic | wind energy turbine conservation biodiversity siting land use |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/4/462 |
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