December 2, 1999

Mr. Steven Dryden
Florida Power & Light
355 Main St. P.O. Box 286
Allenton, WI 53002

Dear Mr. Dryden:

Staff from the Department of Natural Resources have considered the wind energy project your company has proposed for the Town of Allenton, Washington County. Based on the information we have on this site, and the extent of wildlife use (primarily birds), we can say that there is no data to indicate that the site poses a significant threat to birds found in the area. We must caution that until the bird use data being collected at the site has been evaluated by DNR biologists, that can only be a tentative conclusion. Because we have no data on their distribution and numbers, we are not able to make a prediction on whether or not developing the site will adversely affect populations of bats in the local area.
 
 

Until data is collected on bird and bat mortality at the facility (should it be installed and operating), we cannot conclude that the site is essentially "safe" for those species. As the Department has no direct regulatory authority over this proposal, our evaluation is advisory in nature. That said, I repeat that there is no indication that the site has characteristics that have been associated with problematic levels of bird mortality. Indeed, it has more in common with other wind energy sites in the upper Midwest where there have been only low levels of bird mortality.
 
 

Studies of bird mortality at wind facilities in the Midwest (especially those with similar construction) have not indicated that waterfowl such as ducks and geese, or water birds such as herons and cranes, or raptors, are particularly vulnerable to collisions with wind turbines. Songbirds are more frequently killed, and generally in small numbers. Bats have been killed in larger numbers at several wind energy facilities. However, there is not enough information to indicate whether or not this poses a threat to local bat populations either.
 
 

The Department appreciates your company’s willingness to evaluate the wildlife use, and potential mortality at this facility, should it receive the necessary local approvals and be put into operation. In that case, we would look forward to working with you, and your biological consultants, to add some important data to help better understand the interactions between birds and bats and wind energy facilities.
 
 

If you would like to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact me at (608) 266-6673.
 
 

Sincerely,
 
 
 
 

Steven M. Ugoretz

Energy Team Leader
 
 

Cc: Tom Issac – Pike Lake

Vic Pappas – SER

Bill Fannucchi – PSC-Electric Div.