Offshore Wind Industry

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 Applied Ecology Group 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
  • Development of avoidance, minimization, and compensation approaches
  • Development and implementation of post-construction monitoring frameworks
  • Support for endangered species assessments

AEG 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

The Applied Ecology Group’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, the Applied Ecology Group supports identifying innovative solutions to complex problems.

Land-based Renewable Energy

Solar Energy Development

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.

Hydroelectric Power

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.

Onshore Wind Development

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:

Photo Credits: Header photo © artJazxz, iStock; Solar panels at sunset © Jess Rodriguez, Shutterstock; Hydroelectic damn © DedMityay, Shutterstock; Terrestrial wind farm © Richard Whitcombe, Shutterstock