Carbon emissions from fossil fuels represent the largest contributor to climate change. At the same time, we strive to understand the impact of wind power development on wildlife and habitat, and support siting of renewable wind energy in places that minimize those impacts.
Our report, Wind Power and Wildlife in Maine: A State-wide Geographic Analysis of High-Value Wildlife Resources and Wind Power Classes, identifies areas of the state that are most appropriate or least appropriate for commercial wind development as it impacts wildlife and habitat. It also assesses the feasibility of the State of Maine’s goal of generating 3,000 MW (megawatts) of electricity from on-shore wind power by 2030.
- Wind Power and Wildlife – Summary (pdf)
- Wind Power and Wildlife – Full Report (pdf)
- Wind Power Siting Guidelines (pdf)
Where do our wind and wildlife resources overlap?
This interactive map allows you to explore the results of Maine Audubon’s Wind Power and Wildlife in Maine report. Please refer to the report for a full explanation of the mapping methods used for this analysis.
Please note that, due to limited data availability, this report does not map all wildlife resources. As new mapping data becomes available, the GIS map layers can be updated to help further understand the impacts of wind power development on wildlife. Please see page nine of the report for additional information about limitations of this study.
Our analysis is limited to terrestrial, land-based wind and wildlife resources. Many important off-shore resources (such as bird migration corridors) are currently in the process of being mapped. The report and the map do not include these important wildlife resources that are vulnerable to wind development.
- Yellow: Tier 1 Wildlife Resource Values that overlap with the wind base. These include riparian habitat (edges of streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and wetlands) and significant wildlife habitats (such as inland waterfowl and wading bird habitat, shorebird habitat, deer wintering areas and endangered, threatened and special concern species).
- Orange: Tier 2 Wildlife Resource Values that overlap with the wind base. These include Bicknell’s Thrush Modeled Habitat, Beginning with Habitat (BwH)Focus Areas and BwH Habitat Connectors.
- Red: Tier 1 and Tier 2 Resource Values that overlap with each other and the wind base.
- Black: Wind base with no overlap of wildlife resources we analyzed.
- Green: Existing conservation lands. Our analysis excluded conservation land, developed areas and steep slopes.
Please see page 6 of the report for a complete list of GIS data used in the analysis.