Site Wind Right Resources
This page was updated Nov. 16, 2020.
The Nature Conservancy supports the rapid expansion of renewable energy, and America’s ample wind resources offer the opportunity to provide clean, low-impact power for people and wildlife.
Achieving the wind energy development necessary to meet our climate goals will require quadrupling current wind capacity in the United States by 2050. Much of this new wind development is likely to occur in the Great Plains, home to some of the nation’s most promising wind resources. The Great Plains also provide our best remaining grassland habitat in North America, and the unique wildlife that is home on this range, such as bison, pronghorn antelope, deer, and prairie chickens.
Site Wind Right in the News
- Power Mag: Power Magazine: Map Shows ‘Low-Impact’ Locations for Wind
- ArcNews: Web Map Brings Together Wildlife Conservation and Green Energy Development
- Utility Dive: New “Site Wind Right” Energy Map Released for Central U.S.
- Kansas.com: U.S. could power nation with wind energy without harming wildlife, study says
The Site Wind Right Map
To help accelerate the deployment of wind energy in a way that helps people and nature thrive, The Nature Conservancy is providing the award-winning Site Wind Right map now! This interactive online map uses GIS technology and pulls from more than 100 data sets on wind resources, wildlife habitat, current land use and infrastructure to help inform siting decisions across 17 states in the Central United States (download the data below).
By using Site Wind Right early in the process, developers, utilities, power-purchasers and agencies can help save time and money by highlighting areas with the lowest potential for conflict.
We need more tools like this to speed-up our move away from burning fossil fuels.
Site Wind Right is an invaluable resource that helps us avoid unnecessary impacts to the wildlife and iconic landscapes of the Great Plains, while also allowing us to provide clean, low-carbon energy for our customers."
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Further Reading
Program Overview
Clean Energy for People and Wildlife
The Nature Conservancy is working across the country to help private and public partners deliver clean, wildlife-friendly renewable power to customers faster and cheaper.
Feature
Siting Wind Right for Wildlife
How can we balance the need for renewable energy like wind power with the need to safeguard wildlife and their habitats? Site Wind Right, a new analysis by The Nature Conservancy has some answers for
Blog
Leading the Way on Clean Energy
States have been exploring policy opportunities that encourage the growth of clean energy and energy efficiency.