Bats Biodiversity Climate change

WCS Canada Comments: BCER Recommendations for Renewable Energy Guidance

Olson, C. & Lausen, C.

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Key points

• The BCER initiative to develop a regulatory framework for wind energy permitting presents the opportunity to avoid bat-related gaps and problems present in technical guidance under other BC Government ministries and achieve better outcomes for bat populations.
• The submission includes recommendations to address these gaps and problems, including recommendations related to curtailment (braking) of spinning turbine blades, post-construction bat fatality monitoring, the importance of engaging appropriately qualified bat professionals, and data-sharing related to impacts of wind energy production on bats.

Abstract

In 2025, the British Columbia Energy Regulator (BCER) was granted oversight of renewable energy projects in BC. As part of its new mandate, BCER is working to develop a new regulatory framework to govern the life cycle operations of renewable energy projects in B.C. In this submission to BCER, staff from WCS Canada's Bat Program provide input to inform this regulatory framework, specific to wind energy projects in BC and their impacts on bat populations.

Recommended citation

Olson, C. & Lausen, C. (2026). WCS Canada Comments: BCER Recommendations for Renewable Energy Guidance. Wildlife Conservation Society Canada [WCS Canada]. https://wcscanada.org/resources/wcs-canada-comments-bcer-recommendations-for-renewable-energy-guidance/