Summary of Bats and Land-Based Wind Energy Development in the United States and Canada

Hoary Bat

Deployment of wind energy over the past 20 years has increased renewable energy generation, but also raised concerns regarding the impact of wind turbine collisions on certain bat species (Friedenberg and Frick 2021). In 2012, the estimated number of bat fatalities from wind energy development in the United States and Canada ranged from 196,190 to 395,886 (Arnett and Baerwald 2013). The installed capacity across the two countries at the time was approximately 66,000 megawatts. Since then, the installed capacity of wind energy has more than doubled (Rand et al. 2020); therefore, the number of annual bat fatalities has likely increased as well.

A total of 22 species of bats have been reported as fatalities at wind energy facilities in the United States and Canada (American Wind Wildlife Institute 2020). Migratory tree-roosting species, including the hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), and silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), constitute approximately 72% of bat carcasses reported, but other species, such as the Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis), can make up a significant portion of fatalities in the southern United States (Arnett and Baerwald 2013; Zimmerling and Francis 2016; American Wind Wildlife Institute 2020; Weaver et al. 2020). Wind turbines are also known to cause fatalities of federally endangered species including the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), northeastern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), and Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus), but occurrences are relatively rare (Erickson et al. 2016; Gorresen et al. 2020). Differences in behavior, abundance, and other factors likely contribute to the variability in fatality rates among bat species.

Data on relative age and sex of individual carcasses is inconclusive as it is difficult to determine this information from many of the carcasses that are recovered during searches (Korstian et al. 2013; Nelson et al. 2018; Chipps et al. 2020). The lack of demographic data for many bat species makes it difficult to assess the potential population-level impacts of wind turbines. Given that many species have a small population and slow growth rate, it has become increasingly important to better understand the long-term impact of wind energy on certain species of bats (Barclay and Harder 2003; Kunz et al. 2007; Russell et al. 2014; Frick et al. 2017; Friedenberg and Frick 2021).

    The table below contains the literature relevant to this summary document and will continue to be updated as new literature is added to Tethys.

    Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
    Annual Report for the Maple Ridge Wind Power Project Postconstruction Bird and Bat Fatality Study - 2007 Jain, A., Kerlinger, P., Curry, R., Slobodnik, L. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds, Ground-Nesting Birds, Passerines, Raptors, Shorebirds, Waterfowl
    On-Shore Bird and Bat Pre- and Post-Construction Monitoring Protocol for Commercial Wind Energy Facilities in Ohio: An Addendum to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Voluntary Cooperative Agreement Ohio Department of Natural Resources Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
    Oregon's High Desert and Wind Energy: Opportunities and Strategies for Responsible Development Oregon Natural Desert Association Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds, Bats
    Portland General Electric Biglow Canyon Wind Farm Phase I Post-Construction Avian and Bat Monitoring First Annual Report Sherman County, Oregon: January, 2008 - December, 2008 Jeffrey, J., Bay, K., Erickson, W., Sonnenberg, M., Baker, J., Kerterke, M., Boehrs, J., Palochak, A. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds, Bats
    Annual Report for the Noble Bliss Windpark, LLC Postconstruction Bird and Bat Fatality Study 2008 Jain, A., Kerlinger, P., Curry, R., Slobodnik, L., Quant, J., Pursell, D. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Effectiveness of Changing Wind Turbine Cut-in Speed to Reduce Bat Fatalities at Wind Facilities 2009 Arnett, E., Schirmacher, M., Huso, M., Hayes, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Draft Avian and Bat Post-Construction Monitoring Plan: Raleigh Wind Farm, Invenergy Canada Dillon Consulting Limited Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Communication Towers, Lights, and Birds: Successful Methods of Reducing the Frequency of Avian Collisions Gehring, J., Kerlinger, P., Manville, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Lighting Bats, Birds, Fish
    Bat Acoustic Studies for the Georgia Mountain Community Wind Project Chittenden County, Vermont Gruver, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Guidelines for Assessing the Potential Impacts to Birds and Bats from Wind Energy Development in Northern Arizona and the Southern Colorado Plateau Lynn, J., Auberle, W. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds, Bats
    Chiropteran Risk Assessment: Proposed Pleasant Ridge Wind Energy Generation Facility, Livingston County, Illinois BHE Environmental Inc Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    An Acoustic Study of Bat Activity at the Proposed Roaring Brook Wind Project, New York, Spring - Fall 2008 Hein, C., Schwab, N., Mabee, T. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    An Ecological Risk Assessment of Wind Energy Development in Montana Martin, B., Pearson, A., Bauer, B. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds, Bats
    Breathe of Life: Ethical Wind Power and Wildlife Loder, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Terrestrial Mammals
    Phase I Bat Risk Assessment: Mount Wachusett Community College Wind Energy Project Worcester County, Massachusetts Reynolds, D., Veilleux, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Scientific Review of California Guidelines for Reducing Impacts to Birds and Bats from Wind Energy Development Hicks, W., Newman, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Wind Power in Wyoming: Doing it Smart from the Start Molvar, E. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Avian and Bat Protection Plan: Iberdrola Renewables Iberdrola Renewables Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Raptors
    Barotrauma is a Significant Cause of Bat Fatalities at Wind Turbines Baerwald, E., D'Amours, G., Klug, B., Barclay, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Bats
    Patterns of Avian and Bat Mortality at a Utility-Scaled Wind Farm on the Southern High Plains Miller, A. Thesis Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds, Bats
    Evaluating Pre-Construction Sampling Regimes for Assessing Patterns of Bat Activity at a Wind Energy Development in Southern California Weller, T. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    How Ecofriendly are Wind Farms? Cohn, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Avoidance, Attraction Raptors, Birds, Bats
    Testing the Effectiveness of an Experimental Acoustic Bat Deterrent at the Maple Ridge Wind Farm Horn, J., Arnett, E., Jensen, M., Kunz, T. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Avoidance, Collision Bats
    Wind & Wildlife Key Research Topics National Wind Coordinating Collaborative Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Wind Power Company Compliance with Mitigation Plans in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area Smallwood, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change, Collision Birds, Bats
    Mating Behavior as a Possible Cause of Bat Fatalities at Wind Turbines Cryan, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Collision Bats
    Post-Construction Avian Monitoring Study for the Shiloh I Wind Power Project Solano County, California, Two Year Report Kerlinger, P., Curry, R., Culp, L., Fischer, B., Hasch, A., Jain, A., Wilkerson, C. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Raptors, Birds, Bats
    Post-Construction Meteorological Tower Fatality Study at the Shiloh I Wind Project Site Solano County, California Final Report Kerlinger, P., Curry, R., Culp, L., Fischer, B., Hasch, A., Wilkerson, C. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Raptors, Birds, Bats
    Overview of Issues Related to Bats and Wind Energy Cryan, P. Presentation Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    A Radar Study of Nocturnal Bird and Bat Migration at the Proposed Hatchet Ridge Wind Project, California, Fall 2007 Mabee, T., Sanzenbacher, P. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Passerines, Birds, Bats
    Patterns of Bat Fatalities at Wind Energy Facilities in North America Arnett, E., Brown, W., Erickson, W., Fiedler, J., Hamiltons, B., Henry, T., Jain, A., Johnson, G., Kerns, J., Koford, R., Nicholson, C., O'Connell, T., Piorkowski, M., Tankersley, R. Jr. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    A Visual and Acoustic Study of Nocturnal Bird and Bat Migration at the Proposed Roaring Brook Wind Project, New York, Fall 2007 Mabee, T., Schwab, N. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Behavioral Responses of Bats to Operating Wind Turbines Horn, J., Arnett, E., Kunz, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision Bats
    Puget Sound Energy Wild Horse Wind Facility Post-Construction Avian and Bat Monitoring, First Annual Report: January - December 2007 Erickson, W., Jeffrey, J., Poulton, V. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds, Bats
    Probability of Impact Workshop National Wind Coordinating Collaborative Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
    Bat Species Composition and Activity at the Proposed Glen Dhu Wind Development Site, Pictou County, Nova Scotia Broders, H., Henderson, L. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Spring 2007 Radar, Visual, and Acoustic Survey of Bird and Bat Migration at the Proposed Windpark in Coos County, New Hampshire by Granite Reliable Power, LLC Stantec Consulting Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Fall 2006 Radar Surveys of Nighttime Migration Activity at the Proposed Windpark in Coos County, New Hampshire by Granite Reliable Power, LLC Stantec Consulting Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Prairie Winds: Migrating Bats & Wind Energy in Canada Baerwald, E. Magazine Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    California Guidelines for Reducing Impacts to Birds and Bats from Wind Energy Development Anderson, R., Sanders, S., Flint, S., Sterner, D. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
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