Comment
The proposed curtailment options aimed to minimize bat mortality are a great start. With the changing conservation concern about our migratory bats, it is important to take steps to minimize impacts.
As I understand this change, options are blanket curtailment below 7 m/s for quite a long season with no monitoring, which is the approach used now in Quebec, or smart curtailment or local adaptation + 3 years of monitoring.
There is abundant research on the effectiveness of curtailment in reducing mortalities and the correlation with a higher cut-in speed and fewer mortalities. With concerns about the high amount of wind generation in Ontario, the 7 m/s cut in speed seems entirely reasonable in the face of rapid declines of migratory bats.
In BC we are similarly working to update our guidance and are closely watching these developments.
Submitted February 10, 2025 6:01 PM
Comment on
Regulatory changes under the Endangered Species Act to extend application of conditional exemptions to newly listed species and update the conditional exemption for the operation of wind facilities
ERO number
019-9411
Comment ID
125249
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Comment status