Applied Ecology for Renewable Energy (AERE)

As renewable energy sectors in the United States continue to grow, the demand for natural resources consulting services will remain high. The environmental due diligence and permitting process is a rigorous, multi-tiered effort and requires a wide range of expertise and collaboration.

The AERE Group provides scientifically sound support and products for renewable energy entities to avoid, minimize and mitigate the impacts of projects on wildlife and the environment. Our team relies on a group of experts with expertise in decision support, communications, data collection and analysis, regulatory and permitting requirements, and synthesis and presentation of quantitative products.

Our extensive experience permitting projects across New England and North America includes wind energy, solar energy, high-voltage transmission lines, hydropower, infrastructure projects as well as residential and commercial development.

Offshore Wind Sector

AERE facilitates the development of environmentally responsible offshore wind projects while ensuring that potential impacts to birds, bats and other wildlife are understood and minimized. We provide support through all phases of a project, including early planning and siting decisions, permitting, and post-construction monitoring.

Early planning and siting decisions

  • Conduct studies to support marine spatial planning

Permitting

  • Site characterization surveys of marine birds using boat-based observers
  • Bat data collection using autonomous recording units (ARUs_
  • Survey design
  • Exposure and vulnerability assessments to inform Construction and Operations Plans (COPs)
  • Mitigation plans

AERE conducts various types of avian and bat risk assessments for offshore wind energy projects, including:

  • Site characterization surveys
  • Development of avoidance, minimization, and compensation approaches
  • Development and implementation of post-construction monitoring frameworks
  • Support for endangered species assessments

AERE’s approach is to facilitate early and open dialog between agency biologists and managers of renewable energy facilities. Through a collaborative process, and using the best available science, AERE supports identifying innovative solutions to complex problems.

Focal Areas

Key Skills

Photo Credits: Header photo © Ionna22, Shutterstock; Gull with turbines © Martin Rogozinski