Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance’s position on
renewable energy solutions

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (or SoWBA, formerly Madison Audubon) understands the significant energy and climate issues we are all facing, and supports ecologically-responsible renewable energy solutions that reduce carbon emissions and increase equitable access to clean energy. Indeed, the well-being and sustainability of our society, wildlife habitats, and native species depend on it. 

Birds matter. Their habitats matter.  Renewable energy projects have the potential to benefit bird populations overall, particularly by reducing effects of global climate change which threaten more than two thirds of North America’s bird species. We must advance green energy solutions, but we must be careful not to do so at the expense of birds and their habitats.

SoWBA recognizes there is no perfect solution to these problems. The significant benefits of solar and wind installations (e.g., climate change mitigation, prevention of soil erosion, improved water quality) must be balanced carefully against potential negatives. Ultimately, any renewable energy effort has to maximize its net positive impact through careful site-level and statewide planning and execution to ensure that potential harms are eliminated or minimized. 

Factors to consider include:

1. Siting. All infrastructure, including photovoltaic solar panels and wind turbines, should avoid areas that could result in any potential negative impacts to wildlife, habitats, and ecosystem services through careful site selection. There should be an adequate buffer around any permanently protected wildlife habitat (e.g., property owned by SoWBA, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources) that is in close proximity to proposed installations. A buffer would help reduce the impact of prescribed burns or wildfires on both the renewable energy installations and protected areas.

• When possible, solar panels should be installed on existing infrastructure (e.g., buildings). SoWBA has installed 50 solar panels at two of our wildlife sanctuaries, all placed either on or adjacent to existing buildings.

• We recognize that large solar installations or wind turbine farms are needed to meet the scale necessary to combat climate change. Therefore, we encourage state-level leadership on strategic placement and best management practices for siting renewable energy facilities throughout Wisconsin.

2. Land Quality. Wisconsin is home to an incredible, valuable resource: high-quality soils that provide an abundance of food and wildlife habitat. Landowners have many factors to weigh when considering leasing their land for renewable energy infrastructure. SoWBA fully respects their rights—we realize it is necessary to preserve farmland for use in food production as well as to protect land for wildlife habitat, which provides pollination services, helps carbon sequestration, controls erosion, and improves water quality, in addition to providing benefits to wildlife and the public.

3. Management. Photovoltaic solar installations and wind projects must also be operated in a manner that minimizes impacts to the very wildlife and natural areas threatened by climate change. This includes implementing best management practices as they relate to vegetation and groundcover.

• Some solar installations plant perennial vegetation among the panels. SoWBA would like to see that the plants selected will be species that provide benefits to pollinators and other wildlife.

Ultimately, global climate change represents an existential threat to our entire community, including birds and other wildlife. We must diligently and thoughtfully tackle this problem—together and now. SoWBA supports green energy solutions that will help slow the rise of global temperatures and protect society, birds, and wildlife habitats. SoWBA seeks to work with solar companies and landowners alike to find the most inclusive, sustainable, and thoughtful solutions for placement of solar panels.

With questions, please contact us at info@swibirds.org.

Banner photo: A beautiful Goose Pond Sanctuary prairie in full bloom. Photo by Arlene Koziol