In a post earlier today, I referred to the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) as a possible reason for Mr. Pickens' need for a $10 million media blitz on his new energy plan. Upon further research, I find that he has the opportunity to do something that could have the potential for aiding the Lesser Prairie Chicken while furthering his plans for wind energy development and heading off potential future challenges if the LPC were to eventually be declared endangered.
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department offers a program called the "Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA)" which can provide protection for both the Lesser Prairie Chicken and Mr. Pickens in the event of a change in status for the LPC. The CCAA is an agreement whereby the landowner can enter into a voluntary program for developing and maintaining habitat for the LPC through a wildlife management plan developed in coordination with a Parks & Wildlife biologist. The agreement provides assurances that the landowner will not be subject to further use restrictions or conditions should the LPC be declared endangered. This could truly be a benefit to Boone and to the LPC.
The issue of Wildlife and Wind Development is something that is critically important as we move forward with alternative energy development. An conference regarding those issues will be held August 8 - 9 in Amarillo, Texas. The Panhandle Wind and Wildlife Conference will be an opportunity for education as well as a venue for discussing the various issues regarding wind energy development and wildlife interactions. Information about the conference can be found here.
