Wind power company moves turbines to avoid birds

Wind energy company NaturEner USA LLC said it would relocate 25 towers of a 126-tower wind farm under construction in order to avoid disrupting raptor nests.

NaturEner and Montana Audubon made the announcement last week at the $400 million Rim Rock Wind Farm. The towers will be moved away from Kevin Rim, which the Bureau of Land Management says is an important habitat for the birds. Montana Audubon said in a statement that Kevin Rim is home to as many as 60 active nests of 10 raptor species a year.

The two groups signed an agreement stating they will continue to collaborate as the project moves forward. The wind farm is expected to generate 189 megawatts and come online by the end of the year, according to company officials.