With help from a new national grant, a Colorado electric cooperative will retrofit 100 distribution power poles this year to reduce hazardous run-ins with bald eagles and, in turn, provide greater reliability for its members.
La Plata Electric Association will receive the award from the Eagle In-Lieu Fee (ILF) Program, which was authorized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2018 as the first mitigation credit program under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
“This grant underscores LPEA’s commitment to environmental sustainability and providing dependable power to our communities,” said Chris Hansen, CEO of the Durango-based co-op.
“By protecting wildlife and reducing risks to eagles on our power poles, we are prioritizing both the well-being of our environment and the reliability of our service.”
The co-op will reconfigure 100 poles identified as “high-risk” to provide 60 inches of horizontal clearance and 40 inches of vertical clearance between conductors. The measurements meet industry “avian-friendly” criteria and accommodate a perching eagle’s typical height and the span between the middle joint, or wrist, of its wings.
The Eagle ILF Program supports efforts like the project at LPEA with funds from selling mitigation credits. Operators of infrastructure with incidental take permits from the USFWS may buy these credits from the program.
The exact value of the grant will be determined once the scope of work is finalized. LPEA is working with Eagle Electrocution Solutions, the Fort Collins-based operator of the Eagle ILF Program.
“This initiative will not only safeguard local eagle populations but also reduce power outages and wildfire risks,” said Amanda Anderson, LPEA’s strategic communications officer.
Cathy Cash is a staff writer for NRECA.