Regenerative development, biodiversity & wildlife

For our sites within the migration corridor used by the Aransas-Wood Buffalo population of whooping cranes we conduct mandatory awareness training for all staff who work at these sites. At other wind sites, we use bio-monitors to watch for eagles flying near the wind turbines and stop the operation of those wind turbines to protect the eagles.

“Seasonal curtailment” is used to help protect bats at a wind site with significant bat activity. During the summer and fall seasons when bat activity is highest, the site’s turbines are stopped if wind speeds are below a set “cut-in” speed – if wind speeds are above this cut-in speed, bats are unlikely to be flying.

We created a 50-acre conservation easement within the Alpine Solar facility to protect land suitable for the restoration and enhancement of burrowing owl nesting and foraging habitat. At several sites we maintain wildlife corridors for small mammals by creating openings in the bottom of security fences at our solar sites. At California Valley Solar Ranch, site lands within the conservation easement had been degraded by past farming and grazing. In 2020 we completed seeding 71 acres of the easement with native shrubs to enhance the habitat for giant kangaroo rat, San Joaquin kit fox, San Joaquin antelope squirrel, and pronghorn antelope.

We protected approximately 4.75 acres of habitat for the black-capped vireo, a small bird native to the U.S. and Mexico, at our Langford wind site in Texas. In addition to barriers to protect the habitat, we conduct awareness training for all visitors and staff to educate them about the black-capped vireo and the importance of conserving biodiversity.