Wildlife and Marine Wind Energy Workshop
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In a two-day closed session in early November, BRI brought together more than 35 leading researchers in the field of wildlife and wind energy development to identify areas of scientific consensus on this issue and to provide applied recommendations. Their efforts will culminate in a forum article to be submitted to the journal BioScience.
 Photo Credit: Emma Angus During the workshop breakout sessions, researchers divided into groups according to taxonomic specialty. Above: the marine mammal and sea turtle breakout group included (from left to right): Pat Jodice from Clemson University; Scott Kraus from the New England Aquarium; Mark Swingle from the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center; and Pat Halpin from Duke University. Below: the fish group included Heidi Souder of National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Brian Kinlan (foreground) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and Christopher Glass of the University of New Hampshire.
The steering committee for the Wildlife Science and Marine Wind Energy Initiative is comprised of leading research biologists with expertise in marine wind energy development, birds, marine mammals, bats, and fish. Steering committee members include:
For a full list of workshop attendees, click here. For a current working bibliography Special Feature: BRI’s science journalist interns, Wildlife Science and Marine Wind Energy Initiative |
“We see renewable energy as good news in carbon reduction, but there are other factors we need to consider...We have a responsibility to ensure that [wind farm] developments take place with minimum damage to these species.”  Photo Credit: Emma Angus Visiting European scientists, Dr. Rowena Langston (pictured above center) from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Dr. Tony Fox from Aarhus University in Denmark shared insights gained from more than 20 years experience with marine wind power development. “Maine is uniquely positioned to harness deepwater offshore energy, and workshops like these are precisely why our state leads the way in diversifying our nation’s energy resources. Research in this area is absolutely vital so that we can take advantage of wind energy while at the same time ensuring Maine’s iconic marine resources and wildlife continue to thrive.”  Photo Credit: Emma Angus “When it comes to wind farms on the East Coast, we do have a fresh slate. We’re lucky that we have the European experience to grow from...they’ve had turbines in the water for 20 years and they’ve been examining the issues that we’re talking about here. The conditions might not be exactly the same, but there are lessons we can learn from them.”  Photo Credit: Emma Angus BRI’s efforts brought together a group of 37 scientists from academic and research institutions, non-profit organizations, as well as federal and state agencies to share their expertise. Above (foreground): Caleb Spiegel from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Scott Kraus from New England Aquarium; below (from left to right): Iain Stenhouse from BRI; Kristopher Winiarski from the University of Rhode Island (URI); Brian Kinlan from NOAA; Peter Paton from URI; Susi von Oettingen from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and David Yates from BRI.  Photo Credit: Emma Angus
Next Steps
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