TWS CEO helps develop upcoming international wind energy conference

When people noticed raptors were getting killed at a wind farm in Northern California, it began to raise concerns about turbine threats to wildlife.

Organizations got together to create the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative to try to address issues like these in the U.S., but as wind energy ramped up in other countries, interest in similar issues was growing around the world.

That’s when the international Conference on Wind Energy and Wildlife got started. TWS CEO Ed Arnett has been on the science advisory committee for the meetings since they began in 2011, and he’s helping shape the upcoming conference scheduled to take place in Croatia this September.

“The Conference on Wind Energy and Wildlife has been an important gathering for researchers and developers to discuss the latest science and move toward developing and implementing solutions,” Arnett said.

The 7^th CWW will take place Sept. 18-22 with the theme “Nature inclusive upscaling of wind energy: Binding together knowledge, innovation, technology and biodiversity on the coast of Croatia.”

Topics covered at the conference range from regulatory and planning aspects of wind energy projects, species-specific responses to onshore and offshore wind energy projects, ecosystem and habitat effects of wind energy projects and more.

Its call for abstracts from researchers who would like to present is open until April 19.

“My hope for this conference—as well as those of the past—is that we continue to build on what we’ve learned from prior research presented,” Arnett said. “That we move the needle on developing solutions and balancing wind energy with environmental impacts.”

Arnett got involved with the conference when he was with Bat Conservation International, helping develop themes and program areas, reviewing abstracts and moderating sessions.

The first conference in Norway in 2011 drew participation from over 300 people from at least 30 countries.