[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 125 (Monday, June 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36793-36794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15258]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Wind and Water Power Technologies Office: Wind Energy Bat and
Eagle Impact Minimization Technologies and Field Testing Opportunities
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy (EERE) invites public comment on its Request for
Information (RFI) regarding a potential funding opportunity to advance
the readiness of bat and eagle impact minimization technologies through
investments in technology development and field testing.
DATES: Comments regarding the RFI must be received on or before July
25, 2014.
ADDRESSES: The complete RFI document is located at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Responses to the RFI and questions
should be sent via email or email attachment to
[email protected]. Further guidance can be found in the RFI
document posted on EERE Exchange.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The mission of the Wind and Water Power
Technology Office of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy is to accelerate widespread U.S. deployment of clean,
affordable, and reliable wind power to promote energy security,
economic growth, and environmental quality. Pursuant to this mission,
the Office funds research and development to address market barriers
that affect the deployment of wind energy, including the effects of
wind on wildlife. In permitting wind facilities and complying with
state and federal laws protecting wildlife, such as the Endangered
Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and Bald and Golden Eagle
Protection Act, developers and operators of wind energy facilities
often must take measures to mitigate the potential impacts of their
facilities on protected species.
While guidelines exist for siting wind facilities in the landscape
and wind turbines within a facility to avoid impacts to wildlife,
technologies to minimize impacts at operational facilities are for most
species either in early stages of development or simply do not exist.
Research in this area is on-going, but significant advancements are
needed to address the siting and permitting challenges currently faced
by the wind industry.
In its RFI, EERE requests comments, information, and
recommendations on the current state of wildlife impact minimization
technologies, conditions under which technology vendors or developers
would consider participating in a demonstration and validation
campaign, and the conditions under which wind farm owner/operators
would consider participating in a campaign to demonstrate, field-test,
and validate such technologies. Additionally, EERE seeks input on a
proposed framework for funding the advancement of wildlife impact
minimization technologies aimed at reducing impacts to bats, eagles and
other wildlife of concern, and on how to prioritize funding for
research within this framework. The RFI is available at: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/.
[[Page 36794]]
Issued in Washington, DC, on 24 June 2014.
Jose Zayas,
Director, Wind and Water Power Technologies Office, Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2014-15258 Filed 6-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P