Case Studies
Collaborative Study of the Effects of Wind Power on Greater Prairie-chicken
PPM Energy has committed $100,000 to a four year collaborative research project between energy companies and environmentalists, to study the Effects of Wind Power on the Demography and Population Genetics of the Greater Prairie-chicken.
The Greater Prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) makes its home on the plains of Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska - windy sites that are also ideal locations for windfarms.
Although it is still relatively abundant, the Greater Prairie-chicken is a species of conservation concern as less than four per cent of its principal habitat, tall-grass prairie, remains in North America.
Greater Prairie-chickens are considered sensitive to habitat disturbance because they need large home ranges for foraging and nesting sites. The study will examine, among other factors, the potential effects of windfarms on nesting areas, as this could have a direct impact on populations.
The research programme was instigated by the Grassland and Shrub Steppe Species Collaborative (GS3C), a subgroup of the National Wind Co-ordinating Committee (NWCC) Wildlife Workgroup.
It brings together funding and representatives from state and federal agencies, private industry, academic institutions, and non-governmental organisations in a collaborative effort to understand how development of wind energy resources may impact the population viability of this species - and what strategies may be used to mitigate any impacts identified.
The research will be conducted in Kansas' Flint Hills on land where wind energy projects are proposed and on control sites where development is not planned. It is being led by Dr Brett Sandercock and Dr Samantha Wisely from Kansas State University.
PPM's Wind Permitting Director Andy Linehan said: "PPM Energy wants to develop wind energy in a way that protects the environments around our projects. In the Great Plains, we know that there's a question about the effects of wind projects on grassland birds like prairie-chickens, so we're investing the time and money to make sure we understand the issue.
"This research is critical to future development of the wind energy resource in prairie ecosystems."
Dr. Robert Robel, an expert on prairie-chicken populations added: "This collaborative research effort is unique. Very seldom do you see developers, wildlife ecologists, federal agencies, state entities, and preservationists working together to examine a perceived problem."
