(Excepted from IDNR’s ECONEWSWIRE)

DES MOINES – Responding to growing interest in wind energy generation in the state, as well as concern over potential impacts to Iowa wildlife, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources convened a group on October 26, 2005 to discuss wind and wildlife issues.

The group will continue to meet through 2006 and will develop a map showing areas of concern relating to wildlife that could be used when siting proposed wind turbines. Although only counties have regulatory authority over wind siting, the group may recommend a voluntary set of guidelines wind developers should follow when siting turbines in sensitive areas, to allow for maximum economic development in the state with minimum impact on wildlife.

Meeting participants included representatives from the American Wind Energy Association, Iowa Audubon, Iowa State University, the Iowa Renewable Energy Association, MidAmerican Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Nature Conservancy, the Sierra Club and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

For more information about this effort, contact Doug Harr with the DNR at (515) 281-4815 or by e-mail at Doug.Harr@dnr.state.ia.us .

Karen Grimes
515-281-51I35
Karen.Grimes@dnr.state.ia.us