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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 125 (Monday, June 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36793-36794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15258]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Wind and Water Power Technologies Office: Wind Energy Bat and 
Eagle Impact Minimization Technologies and Field Testing Opportunities

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of 
Energy.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy (EERE) invites public comment on its Request for 
Information (RFI) regarding a potential funding opportunity to advance 
the readiness of bat and eagle impact minimization technologies through 
investments in technology development and field testing.

DATES: Comments regarding the RFI must be received on or before July 
25, 2014.

ADDRESSES: The complete RFI document is located at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Responses to the RFI and questions 
should be sent via email or email attachment to 
WindMitigationRFI@ee.doe.gov. Further guidance can be found in the RFI 
document posted on EERE Exchange.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The mission of the Wind and Water Power 
Technology Office of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy is to accelerate widespread U.S. deployment of clean, 
affordable, and reliable wind power to promote energy security, 
economic growth, and environmental quality. Pursuant to this mission, 
the Office funds research and development to address market barriers 
that affect the deployment of wind energy, including the effects of 
wind on wildlife. In permitting wind facilities and complying with 
state and federal laws protecting wildlife, such as the Endangered 
Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and Bald and Golden Eagle 
Protection Act, developers and operators of wind energy facilities 
often must take measures to mitigate the potential impacts of their 
facilities on protected species.
    While guidelines exist for siting wind facilities in the landscape 
and wind turbines within a facility to avoid impacts to wildlife, 
technologies to minimize impacts at operational facilities are for most 
species either in early stages of development or simply do not exist. 
Research in this area is on-going, but significant advancements are 
needed to address the siting and permitting challenges currently faced 
by the wind industry.
    In its RFI, EERE requests comments, information, and 
recommendations on the current state of wildlife impact minimization 
technologies, conditions under which technology vendors or developers 
would consider participating in a demonstration and validation 
campaign, and the conditions under which wind farm owner/operators 
would consider participating in a campaign to demonstrate, field-test, 
and validate such technologies. Additionally, EERE seeks input on a 
proposed framework for funding the advancement of wildlife impact 
minimization technologies aimed at reducing impacts to bats, eagles and 
other wildlife of concern, and on how to prioritize funding for 
research within this framework. The RFI is available at: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/.

[[Page 36794]]

    Issued in Washington, DC, on 24 June 2014.
Jose Zayas,
Director, Wind and Water Power Technologies Office, Energy Efficiency 
and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2014-15258 Filed 6-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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