Transmission Planners Must Prioritize Wildlife for Onshore, Offshore Projects

State and federation planners should prioritize wildlife and biodiversity as part of their responsible development of transmission infrastructure.  The National Wildlife Federation has released two transmission reports outlining research, best practices, and recommendations for responsible offshore and onshore transmission planning.

“Responsible development of clean energy, including wind and solar, requires a science-first approach to the responsible development of transmission. Severe weather is changing where wildlife get their food and migrate," said Veronica Ung-Kono, clean energy transmission policy specialist and staff attorney at the National Wildlife Federation. “Proactively planning energy transmission development for the long-term can help wildlife and people thrive." 

“In order to protect marine species and generate renewable power offshore, transmission planning must prioritize avoidance, minimization, and mitigation of impacts to these habitats and wildlife,“ said Shayna Steingard, senior wildlife policy specialist for offshore wind energy at the National Wildlife Federation. “Offshore wind energy is one of the most promising forms of clean energy to meet the demand for power while reducing carbon emissions from existing energy sources, however, understanding the important role marine habitats and wildlife play in balancing our delicate ecosystem must inform the responsible development of offshore wind and transmission.”

The Offshore Transmission Report can be found here and provides recommendations for developers and decision makers to balance the need for transmission development while protecting critical marine species and habitats, particularly the benthos (seabed). 

The Onshore Transmission Report can be found here and details how developers and decisionmakers can build out transmission infrastructure in the Western United States while balancing the needs of migratory species, particularly ungulates and sage grouse. Please see here for a video on onshore transmission.

National Wildlife Federation | https://www.nwf.org/