Environmental & Siting R&D Program Peer Review Meeting

1. Environmental & Siting R&D ProgramPeer Review Meeting Golden, Colorado • May 10, 2006 Bob Thresher & Karin Sinclair, NREL Laura Miner, DOE Bonnie Ram, Energetics Incorporated

2. Environmental & Siting is Related to Program Mission • Primarily land-based focus • Barriers relate to cost of energy and deployment delays • Potential showstoppers • Reasonable permitting requirements • Public perception and involvement • Collaborative research and peer review process • Establish framework for comparative risk assessment

3. FY06 Budget Allocation$900,000 • NREL technical oversight, research, workshops • NWCC wildlife & siting workgroups and publications • Bat Wind Energy Cooperative • Prairie birds & grassland species • Offshore Wind Energy Collaborative (DOE, MTC, GE)

4. Selected FY06 Activities ($900,000) Environmental FY06 Priority Challenges Environmental & Social Impacts Grassland and Shrub Steppe Species Collaborative Bat and Wind Energy Collaborative ($75K) Siting Workshop results Public Perception Offshore and onshore policy and research support Wildlife Research Meeting V State stakeholder workshops ($575K) Improved Tools for Industry and Government Mitigation tool box, Nocturnal Methods and Metrics, and Risk Assessment framework ($250K) Consistent Policies and Leadership DOE-Minerals Management Service MOU Offshore Wind Energy Collaborative State legislation briefings and materials ($50K)

5. Challenges & Measures Priority Challenges Environmental & Social Impacts Public Perception Improving Tools for Industry and Government Consistent Policies and Leadership Progress Measures Improved assessments of species and population impacts; better understanding of relative and cumulative impacts Studies show risks and impacts reflect public concerns; greater awareness of the benefits of wind to national energy security Reasonable permitting requirements, studies, & process; siting strategies Policy and enforcement measures that support the sustainable development of wind energy

6. Are Wind Projects Impacting Population Viability of Greater Prairie-Chickens? • $165,000 for FY06 • NWCC – Oversight Committee • KSU Research Team • NREL - Technical Monitor

7. Collaboration between Industry, Government, University, and NGOs • FPL Energy • Horizon Wind Energy • Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks • National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) • PPM Energy • The Nature Conservancy, Kansas & Oklahoma

8. Are Wind Projects Affecting Bat Populations in Certain Regions? • Formed Cooperative in 2004 • NREL, BCI, AWEA, FWS • 6 week intensive mortality study • June 2005 Draft Report • Acoustic deterrent tests • Ultrasound sample • 2006 Pre-construction monitoring

9. National Wind Coordinating Committee (NWCC FY06) Blueprint • Update Measures & Metrics document (nocturnal focus) • Oversight of prairie birds & grassland species collaborative • Initiate mitigation tool box • Explore benefits of applying ecological risk assessment framework

10. NWCC Meetings and Workshops • Air Quality Issue Forum, Oct 20th, Lansing, MI • NWCC Business Meeting #36, Nov 30th, Washington, DC • Technical Considerations in Siting Wind Developments Research Meeting, Dec 1-2, Washington, DC • Wildlife Workgroup Core Group Meeting & Risk Assessment Workshop, Feb 27-28, Washington, DC • Conduct monthly scheduled conference calls UPCOMING • Wind Energy Contributions in a National Energy Strategy Issue Forum, May 18-19, Washington, DC • Wildlife Workgroup Core Group: Gaps Prioritization Meeting, June 20-21, Boulder, CO • Wildlife Research Meeting VI, Nov 14-16, San Antonio, TX

11. NREL and DOE Keeping Up with Workshops and Activities 2005 • NAS study • GAO Report • DOE/NREL Environmental Strategy • WPA – Raleigh, NC • NYSERDA Wind & Wildlife Working Group 2006 • AWEA/Audubon Wildlife in California • Columbus, OH – IAFWA • Toledo, OH USFWS/EPA • Colorado State, Fish and Game Services

12. Selected Offshore Meetings and Workshops 2005 • Raleigh, NC • Mineral Management Service – tutorial & regulatory • IEA Annex 23 2006 • Great Lakes Offshore Wind • NJ Public Hearing • Houston’s OTC • OWEMES Toronto Hydro Cape Wind Associates Hull Municipal Winergy LIPA & Florida Power and Light Green Energy Ohio Atlantic Ocean W.E.S.T. LLC Southern Company Gulf of Mexico

13. Offshore Activities • MMS Actions • New regulations expected • Memorandum of Understanding • Scoping meetings on PEIS • NREL Actions • White Paper • SeaCon Studies • IEA Annex 23 Workshop • Offshore Wind Energy Collaborative business plan Cape Wind Tower --- 179 feet

14. Offshore Project Challenges • Complex siting process in the ocean • New regulations may create a one-stop-shop • Better understanding of public acceptance • Conduct comparative risk assessment framework • Need government support for Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) studies • Put demonstrations in the water

15. Proposed Technical and OutreachActivities FY07 • Support and fully participate in the collaboratives for avian and bat species • Identify cost effective technologies and strategies to mitigate impacts to the site ecology • Facilitate Interagency Efforts • Offshore regulations with MMS • Fish and Wildlife Service • DOD radar hazards • NEPA analysis • State/Great Lakes/Regional Actions • Offshore • Land-based guidelines • Wind Powering America – regional focus groups • International • IEA Annex 23 • R&D studies

16. National Activities to Watch • National Academy of Sciences Report • US Fish and Wildlife Guidelines • State Guidelines for land-based projects • Wildlife Society Report • Mineral Management Service regulations and NEPA

17. Offshore International lessons learned Risk assessment and multiple uses Complex siting process Public education Land-Based Proliferation of State Guidelines Identifying Priorities and Gaps Comparative Risks Cumulative Risks Addressing Surprises – Radar Public acceptance Strategic Challenges More than 400MW added in next 10 years Public benefit charge for renewable energy

18. Bonnie Rambram@energetics.com Thank you DOE and NREL for supporting this research