Efforts to establish a coordination group among a wide range of stakeholders in wind power development in the Great Lakes/Midwest area were kicked off at a meeting in Chicago, May 2.  Forty-five stakeholders representing Federal resource and regulatory agencies, state agencies, wind project developers, wind power associations, Canadian resource agencies, and others met to explore the need for and approaches to collaborating to identify and address shared interests. 

The meeting followed up on interest expressed at the Toward Wildlife Friendly Wind Power conference held in Toledo, Ohio, last summer, and a wind power workshop held during the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference in Milwaukee last November, to continue to coordinate among the various interests associated with development of wind power in the Great Lakes and Midwest area. 

Bob Krska and Jeff Gosse, Region 3 Ecological Services, initiated and coordinated efforts among a small core group representing a cross-section of wind power interests to plan the meeting, which was facilitated by consultants who also facilitate the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative. 

In opening remarks, Krska explained that, while national and state efforts to coordinate the range of interests are important, a regional effort that is responsive to issues of concern in this part of the country is needed. 

During the meeting, a number of issues associated with wind power development, including concerns about impacts to bird and bat resources, were identified.  These issues may serve as a basis for working together to resolve shared concerns.

The meeting concluded with the formation of a steering committee, including the Service, representing a wide range of stakeholders to continue to explore formation of a regional coordination group. 

At the same time this meeting was taking place, the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans was conducting a hearing on impacts of wind power development on bird and bat resources.  Service Director Hall testified before the subcommittee that national siting and impact assessment guidelines being updated by the Service need to become mandatory for all wind power developments to ensure potential impacts to birds, bats, and other resources are adequately assessed.