Unique Complexities in the Wind Sector: Critical Issues Analysis for a Wind Project in Indiana

A wind project in Indiana revealed how turbine height, wildlife impact, and airspace reviews make wind permitting uniquely complex.

Overview

Each renewable energy project comes with its own set of permitting and environmental challenges. For solar projects, those challenges often relate to land use, glare, or interconnection. For wind, the considerations run much deeper, extending into airspace, and more significant wildlife, and visual impact.

A recent Critical Issues Analysis (CIA) for a major wind project in Indiana highlighted just how distinct these factors can be.

The Challenge

Wind projects introduce a unique mix of federal and state review processes that go far beyond what is typically required for other projects on the energy spectrum. 

Because of turbine height and operational characteristics, they trigger additional layers of environmental and aviation-related permitting, including:

  • Wildlife and avian species impact assessments, involving potential consultation with federal and state wildlife agencies

  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) review for airspace safety and obstruction lighting

  • National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, which can extend project timelines significantly when federal permits are involved

Visual impact and community perception also play a much larger role. With turbines reaching up to 600 feet or higher, the visibility range increases substantially, introducing community engagement and aesthetic impact considerations.

The Approach

The CIA examined each of these factors in detail to identify likely permitting triggers, agency interactions, and risk mitigation opportunities. 

By systematically reviewing environmental sensitivities, jurisdictional overlaps, and visual exposure areas, Access NEP team members developed a comprehensive understanding of how federal, state, and local processes would intersect over the course of the project.

This early assessment gave the project team a realistic picture of what to expect, from consultation timelines to potential review bottlenecks, before committing to design or investment decisions.

The Takeaway

While solar and wind both fall under the renewable energy umbrella, the regulatory terrain they navigate is far from identical. Turbine height, wildlife interaction, and federal oversight make wind development a distinct challenge that demands a deeper level of early diligence.

Proactive, cross-disciplinary evaluation can help project teams plan for the unique permitting realities of wind, reducing uncertainty, avoiding surprises, and building confidence before the first turbine is ever sited.