The state of Wyoming in the United States is growing as a region for renewable energy, especially wind energy. Recently the PacifiCorp company began a multi-stage wind farm construction process in the Medicine Bow area of the state, which is popular to antelope and elk. Which is why, as part of their permit, the company has paid for a multi-year study regarding the impact of wind turbines on antelope and elk which call the region home in the winter.
The first phase of the PacifiCorp wind farm includes seventy-four wind turbines, which has already begun construction. The second phase of the project has not yet begun, however, the region to be used will potentially impact elk, whereas phase one impacts antelope more readily.
PacifiCorp agreed to the study in 2009 and the study subsequently began in 2010. The study was created by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department along with the University of Wyoming. Beginning in January of 2010, female antelope were fitted with collars in order to record GPS locations of the individuals. A total of thirty-five antelope were fitted in 2010. Seventeen more female antelope were collared in December of 2011.
The female antelopes are being fitted for collars in order to more properly track the impacts on the antelope population. The females have the largest role in reproduction and would therefore offer the greatest insight. All of the tags are expected to fall off the individual antelopes in April. The study is not only focusing on the region with turbines, but also nearby areas without turbines in order to compare the data.
The scientists are hoping to discern whether the turbines will impact the antelope by causing them to avoid the region and whether they hurt population numbers. The areas for the wind turbines are also areas prized by antelope due to heavy winds removing snow and exposing food for the herd. The concerns are that the turbines will not only reduce the habitat for the antelope, which are also suffering due to road construction and construction in general in the region, and subsequently the population.
The antelope study, which will have taken a total of three years by the time all is said and done, is joined by a similar elk study. The elk study, however, will take place over a six year period. As aforementioned, the elk will likely be most affected by the second phase of the project but the study has already begun to have before and after construction comparisons. Thirty elk have been fitted with collars as of January 2010, these collars are also expected to fall off in April. The scientists will acquire the data and then place the thirty collars on another thirty individuals in December 2012.
The study will likely answer important questions regarding the impacts of wind farms on both antelope and elk. It is expected that the results of the study will be used for future wind farm projects in order to reduce environmental impacts. The results of the antelope study will not be available until sometime in 2013.
