Study Identifies Floating Solar Siting Strategies to Protect Birds in Northeastern U.S.
A study published on December 23 in Environmental Science & Technology assessed over 16,000 suitable locations for floating solar installations in the northeastern U.S. Researchers combined energy potential data with bird abundance data to identify areas with high energy potential and low bird interaction.
The study highlights potential risks to 291 bird species, including the horned grebe, which is vulnerable due to declining populations. It suggests that avoiding high bird abundance areas can mitigate risks and maintain energy production.
The research emphasizes the importance of ecologically informed siting to support both wildlife and energy needs. Future work will include mapping bird interactions with land-based solar in New York state.
