Protecting Wildlife at Wind Energy Facilities – Pattern

September 28, 2023

A lot of work goes into planning a wind turbine facility, long before the turbines are installed. One big consideration is protecting the environment and putting in measures to give wildlife safe ways to navigate and places to live. Conservation also means educating the community about wildlife, so everyone can contribute to the effort.

At Henvey Inlet Wind in Ontario, these measures and more help protect a wide variety of species, including snakes and turtles. The Henvey Inlet Wind Energy Centre is a partnership between Nigig Power Corporation, a subsidiary of Henvey Inlet First Nation, and Pattern Energy.

“There are eight species of turtles in Ontario, and they are all considered at-risk because of the threats that face them,” says Nicole Kopysh, manager of environmental compliance and conservation at Pattern Energy.

“In terms of how Pattern approaches environmental stewardship, there’s great pride in it—it’s one of our core values and one of our mission statements at every facility.”