The American Clean Power Association (ACP), Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), and Energy and Wildlife Action Coalition (EWAC) jointly release new guidelines to help avoid and reduce potential impacts to wildlife from utility-scale solar development

Today, ACP, AFWA, and EWAC announced the availability of the first-ever National Utility-Scale Solar Wildlife Guidelines. The guidelines provide voluntary, nationally- focused wildlife guidance for utility-scale, ground-mounted PV solar energy project development.  The national guidelines cover PV solar project planning through operations and decommissioning, and provide a framework for identifying, avoiding, and reducing potential impacts on wildlife while supporting responsible solar energy development.

“State fish and wildlife agencies are entrusted with protecting our natural resources for generations to come,” said Paul Johansen, Past-President of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies and Chief of the Wildlife Resources Section for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. “These guidelines show how agencies and solar developers can work together, using sound science and early communication to meet our energy goals while safeguarding the fish and wildlife the public cherishes.”

“The solar energy industry takes seriously the need to develop projects responsibly,” said American Clean Power Chief Policy Officer, JC Sandberg.  “Through this collaboration with state wildlife officials, the industry now has a critical tool to inform site selection, design, construction, and other key elements necessary to get projects to the finish line, so that we can provide clean, affordable energy for American families and businesses.”

“This effort demonstrates what is possible when industry and state wildlife agencies come to the table willing to have candid conversations about difficult issues and committed to developing workable solutions,” said John Anderson, Executive Director of the Energy and Wildlife Action Coalition. “This balanced framework reflects that commitment and provides a model for how industry and agencies can work together to address complex conservation and infrastructure challenges as energy demand rises nationally.”

The new guidelines seek to help developers make informed decisions about whether to (i) proceed with development, (ii) collect additional information, or (iii) adjust project plans in response to potential adverse effects. The guidelines provide a structured framework to support communication between industry and state fish and wildlife agencies to inform science-based decision-making while allowing for flexibility regarding site-specific conditions and individual state processes.

These voluntary guidelines are not intended to replace or preempt existing federal, state, or local fish and wildlife-related authorities, permitting requirements, or established review procedures, nor do they grant authority where it does not already exist. Rather, they are designed to improve communications between the parties to reduce potential for conflict and to complement those existing processes and may help inform them, and to support site assessment, project development, construction, and operations in areas where formal wildlife-related permitting or review processes are absent or limited.

The guidelines address six stages of solar project planning, development and operations, with a summary of the approach, communications triggers, and key considerations included for each: 

1. Relationship building (between the developer and state agency)
2. Preliminary area evaluation
3. Site characterization and design 
4. Construction
5. Operations 
6. Decommissioning

The guidelines discuss species of interest, habitat connectivity, seasonality of certain wildlife considerations, vegetation management, fencing, voluntary conservation opportunities, and beneficial effects of solar projects, among other topics. There is also consideration of state fish and wildlife agency priorities and the potential limitations on developers due to other factors involved in project siting and design.  Read more about the guidelines here.

About the American Clean Power Association:
The American Clean Power Association (ACP) is the leading voice of today’s multi-tech clean energy industry, representing energy storage, wind, utility-scale solar, and transmission companies. ACP is committed to meeting America’s energy and national security goals and building our economy with fast-growing, low-cost, and reliable domestic power. More information is available at https://cleanpower.org.
Media Contact: Ron Schulberg,
Email: rschulberg@cleanpower.org

About the Energy and Wildlife Action Coalition:
The Energy and Wildlife Action Coalition (EWAC) is dedicated to assisting members in the management of natural resources issues associated with the development, generation, transmission, or sale of electricity. EWAC’s primary mission is to promote public policies that are based on sound science, protective of wildlife and natural resources, practical, and efficient. More information is available at https://energyandwildlife.org.
Media Contact: John Anderson
Email: janderson@energyandwildlife.org

About the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies:
Founded in 1902, the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies, promotes sound resource management and conservation and speaks on important fish and wildlife issues. More information is available at www.fishwildlife.org and on Facebook and X.
Media Contact: Patricia Allen
Tel: 202-838-3461
Email: pallen@fishwildlife.org   

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The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations. Working together, the Association’s member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.