Neo Environmental Ltd’s Post

We have a real intersection of urgent actions that need to be taken - biodiversity protection and repair, energy transition and communities with housing pressures. There are already mechanisms under the EPBC Act that allow for landscape assessments, we have regional planning frameworks at a state level and we have a lot of data. None of it is perfect, but it’s time for good (not perfect) planning that brings together biodiversity, energy and community and gives certainty (and therefore $) to let projects go ahead in the right place while also identifying valuable nature repair investments and smart community involvement. We have clever, can do people who can do this, we can make existing laws work the way they should, we just need coordination and a mandate and that has to be led by governments.

🌿 Are you involved in biodiversity assessments for wind farm projects? I have some pressing questions! 🌬️ 1️⃣ In countries along migratory bird routes, have wind farm projects ever been denied solely based on their location in relation to bird migration maps, without any baseline survey? 2️⃣ Has your Ministry of Environment or its equivalent published no-go zones for migration bottleneck areas? Is the boundary information of these zones openly accessible? 3️⃣ Have you encountered cases where permits were issued with conditions requiring the use of camera, radar, or observer-assisted shut-down systems on demand? The reasons for asking these questions stem from a recent development: I was recently contacted by a Turkish energy company planning to construct a wind farm in European Turkey at coordinates (40.66, 26.63). While the Energy Agency has granted the license for the project, the Nature Conservation Agency initially denied the construction permit on grounds of concern for migratory soaring birds, but with no scientific foundation (check the coordinates on Google Maps). The energy company is now proposing to implement radar or camera-assisted shut-down on demand mitigation. In response to this proposal, the Nature Conservation Agency is reconsidering the possibility of issuing a conditioned permit. This special case could pave the way for the adoption of radar and camera technologies, critical for bird collision mitigation. Turkey has more than 270 wind farms. Currently, none of those facilities have radar or camera-assisted shut-down on demand. However, bureaucracy might well prevail over progress, and the permit might well be re-denied! In Turkey, wind energy companies confront prolonged and opaque permit procedures. These obstacles not only impede the growth of renewable energy but also hamper nature conservation and mitigation efforts. Please share your insights and experiences in the comments below! Photo Credit: Cem Akın #RenewableEnergy #BiodiversityConservation #WindEnergy #EnvironmentalConsulting #WildlifeProtection

Attempting to install solar in a location that is not suitable for solar is the third example of harmful sales practices that I have witnessed in this industry. Unfortunately, much of the existing U.S. building stock is not a great candidate for on-site solar, and failing to consider site conditions can be a disaster. The most common examples where sales aggressiveness outpace site due diligence are the following: 1. Installing rooftop solar on a roof surface that needs replacement within the useful life of the solar array 2. Installing solar on a building or site currently in need of other significant infrastructure upgrades 3. Installing ground-mount solar in a location with compelling alternate uses of the land space The third one can be tricky and politically charged, as seen in the below article, but the long-term nature of these decisions necessitates careful consideration on the front-end of project development.

It was great to contribute some photos for this article by Mike McClure, the new Landscapes NI development manager. 📷 Keep an eye out for my own blog post in the not-so-distant future! 🙂 #landscapesni #worldenvironmentday #climatechange

Recently, Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek decided to reject a proposed windfarm project in Queensland. The project, set to be built near the biodiverse wet tropics world heritage area, faced concerns over its potential impact on spectacled flying-fox habitat. Plibersek's stance underscores the importance of prioritising environmental preservation alongside renewable energy development. Ark Energy Corporation the company behind the project, took a bold step by withdrawing its proposal following the minister's indication of refusal. Despite their efforts to minimise environmental impact, Ark Energy recognised the significance of preserving the unique ecosystem. We wholeheartedly support sustainable energy initiatives that harmonise with nature. While we champion the transition to clean energy, we also recognise the critical need to safeguard our ecosystems. Plibersek’s decision reflects a balanced approach, ensuring that renewable projects align with national environmental standards. Moreover, we celebrate the approval of Neoen's Mount Hopeful windfarm project, a testament to the ongoing momentum in renewable energy adoption. With 46 renewable projects already approved and 130 more in the pipeline, Australia is well on its way to becoming a global leader in sustainable energy solutions. #sustainability #renewables #environmentalprotection #cleanenergy #ecosystems #queensland #australia #evoegy

Of course it can, but expediency and profit always get in the way of evidence based decision making in the environmental sphere.

(archive: 2007) Conservation of British Cetaceans #GBR: The Conservation of British Cetaceans: A Review of the Threats and Protection Afforded to Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises in UK Waters (EXTRACT) 1.3.2.1.7. Windfarms In order to provide a source of renewable energy for the UK, there has been considerable investment in the development of alternative technologies and, in particular, windfarms. Due to competition over land use, land-based windfarms are becoming harder to site, therefore attention has become focused on marine windfarms. Although, on the one hand, being a renewable . . . #windpower #windenergy

Drilling rigs in nature reserves: Tensions heighten as Philippine clean energy projects encroach on conservation areas Summary: Tensions have escalated in the Philippines as the expansion of clean energy projects encroaches on protected conservation areas, with a significant conflict emerging over a proposed wind farm in the Masungi Georeserve in Rizal province. This georeserve, known for its distinctive limestone rock formations and stewardship of 2,700 hectares of forestland, faces a threat from drilling operations for 12 wind turbines. Conservationists argue that renewable energy should not come at the expense of fragile ecosystems, emphasizing that up to a thousand hectares of karst landscape could be endangered. The conflict underscores a troubling trend in the Philippines, where the aggressive push for renewable energy capacity to address climate change often overlooks community and environmental rights. While the Philippine government aims to increase its renewable energy share to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040, conservation advocates stress the need for these projects to be located on already-developed lands to avoid damaging critical natural habitats. Despite legal frameworks like the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, amendments now allow renewable energy projects in natural parks if approved by relevant authorities. Conservationists urge that these protected areas be designated as "no-go" zones for early-stage renewable energy planning to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services. The Masungi Georeserve conflict is part of a larger issue, with similar concerns arising in other regions, such as the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park. The push for economic growth and renewable energy investment often clashes with the need to protect vital watershed resources and biodiversity. Advocates call for a balanced approach that harmonizes renewable energy development with environmental conservation, ensuring that progress does not come at the cost of irreplaceable natural heritage. #MasungiGeoreserve #RenewableEnergy #EnvironmentalConservation #Philippines #WindFarmConflict #Biodiversity #SustainableDevelopment #KarstLandscape #CleanEnergy #ProtectNature #ClimateAction #EcoFriendly #NatureVsDevelopment #GreenEnergyDebate #EcosystemProtection

🌞 Controversial Solar Project in the Mojave Desert 🌞 A California-based renewable energy company, Avantus, plans to clear thousands of protected Joshua trees in the Mojave Desert for the Aratina Solar Project, which will power nearly 180,000 coastal homes, not the local communities impacted by the project. 📍 Location: 2,300 acres near Boron and Desert Lake, CA, in Kern County. 🚨 Local Concerns: Residents: Angered by construction dust and the impact on endangered desert tortoises. Ignored: County officials unanimously approved the project despite residents' concerns. Quote: “Let’s destroy the environment to save the environment,” says Deric English, a local teacher. ⚖️ Environmental Trade-Offs: Solar & Wind Fields: Aim to reduce greenhouse gases but involve destroying undeveloped land and harming wildlife. Joshua Trees: Avantus plans to destroy 3,500 Joshua trees, including over 500 standing 16 feet tall. 🌿 Avantus' Statement: Website: “Avantus is working to preserve native Mojave plants like Joshua Trees while also preserving California’s ability to achieve its clean energy goals.” Impact Mitigation: Claims to have a positive track record with wildlife agencies and environmental organizations. 📜 Project Approval: Kern County Board of Supervisors: Approved in October 2021. Economic Impact: $3 million in sales taxes and $73 million in property taxes. Joshua Tree Protection Fund: $1.4 million set aside to protect Joshua trees elsewhere in the state. 💡 Electricity Distribution: Nonprofits: Some electricity will go to Silicon Valley Clean Energy and Central Coast Community Energy. 🌳 Legislation: Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act: Passed in 2023, bans killing trees without a permit. The Aratina project was approved before this act and the Joshua tree’s candidate status for state protection. #RenewableEnergy #SolarProject #EnvironmentalImpact #JoshuaTrees #MojaveDesert #CleanEnergy #CommunityImpact #ClimateChange #Sustainability 🌍⚡

Tania Plibersek, Australian Federal Government Minister for the Environment and Water, has rejected a windfarm energy project proposed for Far North Queensland. This is the second project Minister Plibersek has rejected in recent weeks - the first being a waterfront residential development proposed for the fragile Toondah Harbour wetlands, Cleveland, which was defeated by a 10-year community campaign. Minister Plibersek said renewable energy projects such as that proposed by Arc Energy at Wooroora Station in Far North Queensland, must meet environmental standards in the same way as other energy projects proposed. This is a much needed win for Queensland's and Australia's biodiversity which is disappearing at unprecedented rates and which has hit crisis levels with Australia one of the worst countries internationally for biodiversity loss in flora, fauna, soil, insect, sea and water life. We humans exist as a part of our environment and not separately. It is therefore fundamentally in our interest to turn this devastating trend around and take this crisis seriously. https://lnkd.in/e95RKA6A