ALTA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
In 2012, Terra-Gen created Alta Environmental Services (AES). Located in Kern County, California, AES is focused on the protection of the federally endangered California condor.
Our team is proud to play an important role in the California condor protection efforts in the Tehachapi Mountains. Our AES program currently monitors a flock of approximately 100 California condors and provides this service to other wind energy companies operating in the region.
Full-time personnel monitor condors during daylight hours when the birds are active using GPS transmitter data, radio telemetry equipment and binoculars to track their movement through specific areas surrounded by virtual perimeters known as geofences.
If a condor flies into geofenced airspace monitored by AES, GPS transmitters on the condor signal biologists in a nearby tower. Biologists monitor the bird’s movement and, if warranted, notify nearby wind farms. Operators can then implement turbine curtailment in as little as one minute whenever possible.
At present, there are approximately 550 condors worldwide, with about 350 living in the western United States. As part of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recovery program, approximately 200 condors are cared for in zoos and breeding facilities that support captive breeding and population recovery efforts. USFWS regularly releases captive-bred juvenile condors into the wild.
Terra-Gen supports the broader USFWS condor recovery program by providing GPS monitors that are attached to the birds in a manner that does not harm them. On a regular basis, the USFWS captures condors at designated locations on refuge lands to conduct routine health assessments and replace lost or damaged radio and GPS transmitters. Data collected helps researchers better understand condor behavior and supports ongoing recovery efforts.
AES represents an important part of Terra-Gen’s business and is an example of how we continue to advance the development of renewable energy while maintaining a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and responsible operations, employing best management practices across our projects.
Beyond the California Condor
While California condor protection remains the primary focus of AES, the team also conducts monitoring of golden eagles in the Tehachapi region. Unlike condor monitoring, which relies on GPS and radio telemetry, golden eagle monitoring is conducted through field observations by biologists and field technicians who can recommend turbine curtailment whenever possible if golden eagles are observed.
