Balancing Renewable Energy Growth… Wildlife Conservation

Our April 21 OKC Audubon meeting speaker will be Stevee Kennard with a program “Balancing Renewable Energy Growth with Environmental Stewardship: Navigating Permitting and Wildlife Conservation.”

Stevee is the Director of Environmental Permitting at National Renewable Solutions with much experience in environmental compliance for utility-scale wind, solar, and battery energy storage projects across the United States. She holds a Master of Science from Florida Atlantic University, where her research focused on wetland restoration in the Kissimmee River Basin in central Florida—an experience that shaped her commitment to balancing conservation with renewable energy growth.

Stevee has worked extensively with federal and state wildlife agencies, as well as environmental non-profits, to assess and mitigate project impacts on wildlife. Her expertise lies in developing strategies to avoid, minimize, or mitigate environmental impacts when avoidance isn’t feasible, ensuring responsible and sustainable renewable energy development. In addition to her leadership role, She has contributed to industry best practices as co-chair of the Solar Committee for the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute, helping to advance research and policy on wildlife interactions with solar energy infrastructure.

Included will be the history of renewable energy growth in the U.S. and how our understanding of wildlife impacts has grown with key environmental regulations and permits that projects must consider including industry best management practices for avoiding and minimizing those impacts. Research data will primarily focus on wind energy impacts for birds and bats. Consultants and organizations are actively working on technology and strategies to help renewable energy companies reduce wildlife impacts. 

Our meetings are held September through June on the third Monday of each month.  Meetings begin at 7 p.m. Visitors are always welcome.

Meeting Location:

Our meetings are held at the Will Rogers Garden center, located at the intersection of NW 36th Street and I-44. The Oklahoma City Audubon Society is neither a chapter of, nor affiliated with, the National Audubon Society.