Energy Development and Siting
About
Due to rapidly changing energy policy and advancement in renewable energy technologies, the Southeast is increasingly seen as an ideal region for locating wind, solar, and other forms of energy infrastructure. Despite the benefits these technologies may bring, without proper planning and siting, they can have adverse impacts on the conservation of natural resources, as well as military readiness. Potential habitat destruction and interference with military aviation and radar operations are examples of such impacts that need proactive efforts now to avoid the potential problems that could come.
The SERPPAS Energy Development and Siting Work Group is assessing various measures that ensure early stakeholder notification of proposed energy projects; encourage and facilitate robust coordination; and make effective use of new or existing tools that could aid developers’ understanding and ability to address potential impacts. This collaborative regional approach will establish the means to ensure federal and state officials are able to effectively influence and mitigate potential project impacts, thereby preserving natural resources, protecting the military mission, and strengthening effective working relationships among these interests into the future.
Strategic Objectives
- Build diverse partnership of military, natural resources and energy industry stakeholders to raise awareness of challenges and priorities in the region and identify intersecting opportunities.
- Assist with and promote the development of mapping tools that identify important areas for habitat/species, military mission, and cultural resources for early notification and communication with energy industry.
- Develop and share innovative strategies culminating in a SERPPAS Energy Siting Blueprint/Framework designed to produce mutually beneficial outcomes for
- energy development and military mission by facilitating project siting planning and avoiding detrimental impacts to natural and cultural resources.
- Develop and share resources to assist agency and organization coordination on energy development and siting within the SERPPAS geography and beyond.
- Coordinate with the Coastal Resilience and Regional Adaptation work group to identify strategies to address energy resilience in the context of enhancing military installation resilience.
Work Group Lead
Linda McDowell (Lindy) is a Biologist for the US Army in the Conservation Branch of the US Army Environmental Command (USAEC). She is based in San Antonio, Texas, at Fort Sam Houston. Lindy provides Army leadership and agency officials with technical support as a senior Natural Resources Program Manager. She helps installations located world-wide to sustain their natural resources while keeping focus on the US Army’s mission to provide combat readiness and protect the security of our nation.
Before joining the US Army, Lindy spent five years working for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the FAA’s Southern Region, Orlando Airports District Office where she executed federal grants to fund environmental analysis for approved Airports’ projects and managed FAA’s compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other special purpose environmental laws. Prior to that she spent several years working for the State of Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). While at FDEP she directed inter-agency coordination efforts and environmental planning through the Florida State Clearinghouse for the Florida Coastal Management Program (FCMP). Lindy’s work required her to understand diverse viewpoints and positions, and to consider these to achieve compliance with NEPA and other regulatory issues for consensus within the FCMP.
Lindy has a Bachelor of Science degree in Aquatic Biology from the University of Texas at Austin, and post-baccalaureate work in Ecology from the University of Central Florida.
Resources
Documents
Sentinel Landscapes Partnership Designates South Carolina Lowcountry Sentinel Landscape in the Longleaf Pine Range and Celebrates Recent Accomplishments
3/22/23
The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership designates a new sentinel landscape in the longleaf pine range - the South Carolina Lowcountry Sentinel Landscape, releases the 2022 Sentinel Landscapes Accomplishments Report, and celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the partnership.
Visit the SERPPAS News Archive
Interior and Defense Departments Launch Readiness and Recreation Initiative to Preserve Green Spaces, Enhance Recreation Opportunities around Military Installations
3/21/23
New military land use compatibility tools to shape the future of action plans across the nation
1/3/22
The Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute (NRI), in partnership with the Texas Military Preparedness Commission (TMPC) in the Office of the Governor, and with a grant from the Department of Defense Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (formerly the Office of Economic Adjustment), developed several reports and web tools that assist installation personnel and community stakeholders in addressing various aspects of encroachment issues facing Texas installations.
Visit the SERPPAS News Archive
Events & Webinars
- 77th Annual SEAFWA Conference
-
October 15 - 18, 2023
Corpus Christi, TX - REPI Project Insights Across Regional Partnerships
-
November 8, 2023
Webinar (hosted by REPI) - Solar Power and Wildlife/Natural Resources Symposium
-
November 14 - 16, 2023
Norfolk, VA