“(These) groups fundamentally changed how the state has looked at permitting wind projects,” said Mary Hartman, a critic focused on wildlife impacts.

“We had to prove the negative and the bald eagles were a spectacular vehicle for us to do that. We took pictures and that elevated our credibility to the point that they can believe everything we’re saying. I’ve seen changes at the DNR, Minnesota Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife.”

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources published its “DNR Guidance for Commercial Wind Energy Projects” as it relates to wildlife impacts on Oct. 1, 2011, about three years after the New Era project was proposed. It’s currently drafting a second document titled “Avian and Bat Survey Protocols for Large Wind Energy Conversation Systems in Minnesota,” which is expected to be released in months.

Jamie Schrenzel, DNR’s Energy Project Planner, said last week that the only “significant study of wildlife impacts from wind (turbines) in Minnesota” was conducted in 1996-99, on old turbine technology at the Buffalo Ridge wind project.

“(Information) is honestly pretty limited,” Schrenzel said. “This is a pretty new science. I think there are some challenges around some of the uncertainties and the risk estimates. We’re just now receiving the first fatality data.”

New Era officials initially filed paperwork with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission stating zero bald eagle nests were found and no flight paths were observed through the 32,000-acre footprint. However, the DNR classified it as a moderate risk site for wildlife and the USFWS projected the 48-turbine project could harm or kill 8 to 15 bald eagles per year.

Continue Reading here: State agencies ponder changes to wind-energy rules – PostBulletin.com: Local.