MEDIA RELEASE
Contact: Kelly Fuller, American Bird Conservancy, 202-234-7181 ext. 212

Wind Farm by Mike Parr

(Washington, D.C. – December 29, 2011) Today, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced plans to create a rule authorizing competitive leasing for wind and solar projects on the public land it administers. The announcement states that before competitive leasing for wind projects could occur, the agency would designate wind energy development zones.

“Wind energy development zones, if done right, could be helpful to both birds and wind energy development. Siting is the most important step in make wind energy bird-smart, and American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is developing a map of the areas where wind energy would be most risky to birds. ABC looks forward to participating in this rulemaking, to help ensure the BLM's wind energy zones protect birds while encouraging well-sited wind energy development,” said Kelly Fuller, American Bird Conservancy's Wind Campaign Coordinator.

BLM's Federal Register Notice is available here and the agency is accepting public comments and suggestions about the proposed rulemaking until February 27, 2012.

American Bird Conservancy supports wind power when it is bird-smart.