Fw: Call to Action for Fort Edward Grasslands

DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS IS MIDNIGHT  Thursday night

Use the below note for your comment, copy and paste and sign for convenience. Go to the previous post 9/29 Audubon Take Action button. And paste..

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----- Forwarded Message -----

From: "actionalert@brooklynbirdclub.org" <actionalert@brooklynbirdclub.org>

To: "Membership" <membership@brooklynbirdclub.org>

Cc:

Sent: Tue, Sep 30, 2025 at 5:56 PM

Subject: Call to Action for Fort Edward Grasslands

Dear Brooklyn Bird Club members,

 

In the past, the Brooklyn Bird Club has raised money to support the conservation of grasslands in upstate New York via the Grassland Bird Trust, a not-for-profit land trust based in Washington County. The grasslands are part of an Audubon-designated Important Bird Area (IBA), and they offer critical habitat for the likes of Short-eared Owls, Northern Harriers, and Upland Sandpipers. But the grasslands are under threat from a proposed solar project, and Grassland Bird Trust, American Bird Conservancy, and Audubon New York are asking for help in submitting comments to New York State to convince it and Boralex to fully mitigate the impacts of this project.

 

As the American Bird Conservancy puts it: "While renewable energy is critical to our future, this project—developed by Boralex—would destroy habitat in one of New York's most valuable grassland communities, designated as an Important Bird Area and located adjacent to protected state land.

 

Recent changes to state law require Boralex to provide only 0.2 acres of replacement habitat for every acre they destroy. ABC advocates for a minimum 1:1 mitigation ratio to compensate for any bird habitat loss. Anything less may threaten the long-term survival of these species in New York."

 

You can submit a comment about the project to the NYS Department of Public Service. American Bird Conservancy's suggested letter text is as follows:

 

Dear Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Administrative Law Judges,

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the proposed Fort Edward solar project, which threatens the vital Fort Edward grassland. These high-quality grasslands are a critical component of New York State's birdlife and are home to some of the state's rarest bird species, including Short-eared Owls, Upland Sandpipers, Eastern Meadowlarks, Northern Harriers, Sedge Wrens, Bobolinks, and more.
 
The proposed Fort Edward solar project would be situated in the heart of an Audubon Important Bird Area, NY State Grassland Bird Conservation Center, Natural Heritage Raptor Winter Concentration Area, and adjacent to a state Wildlife Management Area. In short, the project poses uncertain but potentially severe impacts to this priceless habitat and already-declining species.

Since 1970, grassland birds have experienced a 53% decline in abundance nationwide. In the Northeast, they are disappearing faster than any other group of birds. Habitat loss is the primary driver of these alarming declines, making the protection of large blocks of remaining grassland habitat a critical conservation priority.

Renewable energy is critical for our collective future. However, considering the immense ecological value of the Fort Edward grassland, I urge you to provide robust habitat mitigation measures to help conserve the bird species that will be affected. Industrial use of this rare grassland habitat demands extraordinary mitigation efforts. I ask that you observe a 1:1 ratio for any habitat loss, conserving as much habitat as is being impacted.

Thank you for considering the ecological significance of the Fort Edward grassland and for taking action to preserve New York State's declining bird populations.