Altamont Wind Farm Rules Focus on Protecting Golden Eagles and Other Birds of Prey

ALTAMONT PASS, Alameda County — Wind energy remains a major feature of the Altamont hills, but energy output is only one part of the county’s planning process. Protecting golden eagles, other raptors and bats is a longstanding and documented concern.

Why the older turbines generated concern

Alameda County’s Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area planning overview describes the region’s extensive turbine development beginning in the 1980s. Over time, studies raised concerns about birds being struck by rotating blades, particularly birds of prey that hunt over the area’s rolling grasslands.

The California Energy Commission’s wind and wildlife guidance says replacing smaller, older turbines with fewer larger machines appears to have reduced impacts on some species, including golden eagles, at certain studied sites. However, outcomes have varied among bird species; impacts on red-tailed hawks and American kestrels have not uniformly declined.

How the county evaluates proposals

Alameda County manages permit review and environmental documents for projects in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area. It has also maintained a technical advisory committee that considers research, proposed turbine placement, monitoring and protections for birds and bats.

Projects that replace aging turbines are often called repowering. The term describes an energy redevelopment process, not an automatic waiver of environmental responsibilities or a guarantee that collision risk becomes zero.

How residents can learn more

Landowners, birdwatchers and interested residents can review county project files, environmental studies and advisory committee documents on the official wind projects webpage. It includes older studies as archives; those historic mortality figures should not be represented as present-day counts without newer surveys.

Sources: Alameda County Planning Department, Altamont Pass Wind Turbine Projects; California Energy Commission, Guidelines for Reducing Impacts to Birds and Bats. No wildlife or turbine photographs reproduced.

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