BRI has decades of experience performing wildlife survey and assessment work that is prerequisite to commercial solar energy permitting and development. Our staff are intimately familiar with the distribution, ecology, and behavior of a wide variety of species that are relevant to solar energy projects. BRI staff can provide project managers, environmental consultants, and engineers a detailed inventory of species inhabiting proposed project areas, particularly those with regulatory implications.

Learn more about BRI’s solar consulting work here.

BRI staff has extensive history working with hydro companies, private consultants, and state and federal resource agencies to develop and execute wildlife and fisheries studies related to FERC hydroelectric licensing and compliance. Our expertise ranges from study planning and management to field work, data analysis and reporting. We have participated in studies for the successful relicensing of numerous hydro projects in Maine, and have performed ongoing compliance work on several projects for more than two decades.

Learn more about BRI’s hydroelectric work here.

Onshore wind energy and solar development can also present risks to birds and bats. BRI biologists work to understand these wildlife populations and how best to minimize risks of renewable energy development.

Related projects include:

• Meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness of curtailment at different cut-in speeds in reducing bat mortality at terrestrial wind farms
• Stereo-Optic High Definition Imaging