AUTHORS: Brittany R. Schweiger, HDR Engineering, Inc
ABSTRACT: Four of the seven federally listed bat species in the U.S. occur in the north-central region, and two of the remaining seven are being evaluated for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Regulations at the state and federal level often require consultation to assess the impacts to these species before development occurs. In the energy sector, development is rapidly occurring—from power line upgrades to utility-scale solar. In the U.S., there are over 15,000 miles of power lines throughout the country and, in 2023, solar accounted for 55 percent of new electricity-generation capacity. The electric grid infrastructure is aging and, as the population grows and the demand for reliable, clean energy increases, upgrades to transmission systems and additions of utility-scale solar generation are needed. While energy is essential to society, it can have impacts to protected bat species, including the removal of habitat. Therefore, energy projects must understand how bats can influence projects and how to evaluate impacts to bats as a result of construction activities accurately and appropriately during the planning phase. This presentation will highlight species threats, current regulations, the latest species survey guidelines, issues encountered, conservation measures, approaches toward impact minimization, and lessons learned with respect to solar and energy development in many areas of the north-central region. This presentation will be valuable for developers, consultants, regulators, and those interested in the intersection of energy projects and protected species.
