Climate

Birds and Clean Energy

Responsibly sited and operated clean energy will help protect birds from climate change.

Transitioning to clean energy reduces pollution, slows the rise in global temperatures, and provides the pathway to a more sustainable future. This is crucial for frontline communities and the hundreds of bird species that face devastating range loss and extinction due to climate change. That’s why ±¬ÁϹ«Éç supports utility-scale clean energy and transmission development.

Projects must be sited and operated with birds and people in mind. Thankfully, there are well-tested solutions informed by science that can be implemented to alleviate risks. ±¬ÁϹ«Éç works with clean energy developers, local communities, federal and state agencies, and conservation partners to ensure the least impact on bird habitat and migration routes. 

The climate threat facing birds is urgent. To achieve a future where both people and wildlife thrive, we need to rapidly build out photovoltaic (PV) solar and onshore and offshore wind infrastructure – as well as transmission lines to bring that power to the people who need it. By advocating for responsible and community-centered planning, we can protect birds from the worst impacts of climate change while preserving the places we all need.  

100
Gigawatts of renewable energy generation and transmission responsibly sited by 2028
~75
Million homes powered by 100 GW
~340
Million people provided with power from 100 GW
Did You Know?
  • ±¬ÁϹ«Éç Washington helped lead state efforts to identify utility-scale PV solar siting locations that present the to wildlife and communities. 
  • An ultraviolet light-based system for transmission lines at ±¬ÁϹ«Éç’s Rowe Sanctuary has dramatically reduced Sandhill Crane collisions.  
  • ±¬ÁϹ«Éç has worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on permits under the Endangered Species Act that avoid harm to California Condors at wind projects. 

What We're Doing

1
Engaging on the responsible expansion of renewable energy.
Staff advocate for policies, planning, and projects that effectively avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts on birds.
2
Calling for the rapid deployment of well-sited transmission.
To power a clean energy future, we need to scale up transmission capacity while implementing bird-friendly solutions outlined in our Birds and Transmission report.
3
Weighing in on enforcement of federal laws and permitting policies for bird species protected by them.
Improvements to clean energy permitting would strengthen bird protections under the Endangered Species Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Great Egrets fly near transmission lines. Photo: Camilla Cerea/±¬ÁϹ«Éç

Birds and Transmission: Building the Grid Birds Need

±¬ÁϹ«Éç’s 2023 report lays out the need for faster transmission deployment, as well as responsible siting and operation, and shares the latest science on minimizing impacts through bird-friendly solutions.
Learn more
Great Egret
Herons, Egrets, Bitterns
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How Clean Energy Can Benefit Climate, Communities, And Conservation

Conservation groups can make sure clean energy and transmission projects are responsibly sited and operated.
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Burrowing Owl
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A Northern Gannet flies toward camera with grass in its beak.
Northern Gannet. Photo: Joshua Galicki/±¬ÁϹ«Éç Photography Awards
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What Offshore Wind Energy Can Teach Us About Seabirds

Seabirds spend much of their lives far offshore in the vast ocean, making them hard to study. This gap in knowledge might be starting to change...
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Northern Gannet
Boobies and Gannets

Clean Energy News

Remember that ±¬ÁϹ«Éç depends on your support to do the conservation work that we do.
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The Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework Represents a Meaningful Step Toward a Cleaner Future for Birds and People
July 22, 2021 — While funding levels for some programs are insufficient, the framework is a 'down payment' on future clean energy and resilience investments.
Renewable Energy
Electric Utilities, Long Anchored by Coal, Are Starting to Break for Renewables
July 21, 2021 — Renewable electricity will save money in the long run. But that’s tough logic for utilities desperate to earn every penny from their fossil-fuel investments.
Greening the Grid
±¬ÁϹ«Éç Statement on Manzana Wind Power Plant Permit
June 16, 2021 — ±¬ÁϹ«Éç pledges to monitor the development of the California site to minimize, mitigate, and avoid harm to condors.
Renewable Energy
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