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Avangrid Renewables Uses Innovative Approach to Install Wildlife Protection Technology at the Elk River Wind Farm

Avangrid Renewables Protecting our Planet

Avangrid Renewables Uses Innovative Approach to Install Wildlife Protection Technology at the Elk River Wind Farm

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Avangrid Renewables is committed to protecting wildlife across our operating footprint. Our Wildlife Protection Plan (WPP) guides risk reduction measures at each of our wind and solar facilities to minimize and avoid possible impacts to wildlife and their habitats by implementing practices tailored to the local area. As a part of our commitment, we recently took an innovative approach to installing Power Line Sentry bird flight diverters (PLS BFDs) on the transmission lines at the Elk River Wind Farm, in Latham, Kansas, to minimize the risk of bird collisions while ensuring the safety of the workers on site.

Utility lines can pose a hazard to birds, if lines are located within low-level flight corridors that birds may use daily or during migration stops to feed and rest.  PLS BFDs, like those installed at Elk River, increase overhead power line visibility for birds to help avoid collisions. This is particularly important in places like Kansas which is located in the Central U.S. Flyway and within the migratory path of the whooping crane, an endangered species.

BFDs have been used in the energy industry for some time to minimize bird collision risk and help to protect at-risk species, but they can be challenging to install, especially on existing power lines. That’s why Avangrid Renewables, in partnership with Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc., FulcrumAir, Integrated Power Company, and Power Line Sentry found a way to utilize new technology to create a novel, efficient and safer approach for PLS BFD installation.

At Elk River, Avangrid Renewables used a specialized aerial robot designed by FulcrumAir. Called the LineFly, this robot is tailored to install PLS BFDs on power lines post-construction. It was placed on the transmission line shield wire – the uppermost wire – by a crane crew at one end of a span. The LineFly then traveled the line, placing PLS BFDs along the span at precise, pre-determined intervals. The robot can quickly work up high on even larger transmission lines, while its operators pilot the robot safely from the ground.

Avangrid Renewables is proud to continue to implement innovative solutions that enable us to protect wildlife while delivering clean energy. We know that preserving ecosystems and biological diversity is essential for sustainable development. That’s why we are proactive in our efforts to minimize risks to wildlife as a part of our day-to-day operations.

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