New research is helping to understand whether wind energy negatively impacts prairie grouse habitat
Multiple prairie grouse species face increasing threats from expanding human development across their ranges. Some species show sensitivity to disturbance from oil and gas development and have been displaced from otherwise suitable habitat, but it is uncertain whether any of these species’ use of habitat is affected by wind energy construction and operation.
Evaluating potential habitat effects has required expensive, detailed studies at multiple wind farms for several years, and alternative approaches are needed. REWI and collaborators are developing ways to evaluate wind energy impacts on key species of prairie grouse to inform best management practices.
Lesser Prairie Chicken By J.N. Stuart, Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Explore results on prairie grouse and wind energy.
Jeff Dyck, Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Read about a seven-year research project through the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative (NWCC) on effects of wind power development on greater prairie-chicken.
Alan Krakauer, Flickr, licensed under CC BU 2.0
Read about a research collaborative formed through the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative (NWCC) to coordinate studies examining the potential impacts of wind energy development on sage-grouse.