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Bridging Conservation and Efficiency: New Bat Habitat Plan Takes Flight

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Duke Energy is developing one of the largest utility-based Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) focusing on bat protection and vegetation management. The initiative aims to balance necessary grid maintenance across 380,000 miles of right of way with environmental conservation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded Duke Energy a $1 million grant for 2024-2025 to support this project. The plan addresses eight federally endangered or threatened bat species affected by white-nose syndrome and habitat loss. The company expects permit issuance by 2026, with the conservation plan lasting up to 30 years.

Duke Energy sta sviluppando uno dei più grandi Piani di Conservazione dell'Habitat (HCP) basati sui servizi pubblici, concentrandosi sulla protezione dei pipistrelli e sulla gestione della vegetazione. L'iniziativa mira a bilanciare la necessaria manutenzione della rete su 380.000 miglia di diritti di passaggio con la conservazione ambientale. Il Servizio Pesca e Fauna Selvatica degli Stati Uniti ha assegnato a Duke Energy un finanziamento di 1 milione di dollari per il 2024-2025 a supporto di questo progetto. Il piano affronta la questione di otto specie di pipistrelli minacciate o in pericolo a livello federale, colpite dalla sindrome del naso bianco e dalla perdita di habitat. L'azienda prevede di ottenere il rilascio dei permessi entro il 2026, con il piano di conservazione che durerà fino a 30 anni.

Duke Energy está desarrollando uno de los planes de conservación de hábitats (HCP) más grandes basados en servicios públicos, centrado en la protección de murciélagos y la gestión de la vegetación. La iniciativa tiene como objetivo equilibrar el mantenimiento necesario de la red a lo largo de 380,000 millas de derechos de paso con la conservación ambiental. El Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE. UU. otorgó a Duke Energy una para el año 2024-2025 para apoyar este proyecto. El plan aborda ocho especies de murciélagos que están amenazadas o en peligro federalmente afectadas por el síndrome del nariz blanca y la pérdida de hábitat. La compañía espera obtener la emisión de permisos para 2026, con el plan de conservación que durará hasta 30 años.

듀크 에너지는 박쥐 보호와 식생 관리를 중심으로 하는 가장 큰 서식지 보존 계획(HCP) 중 하나를 개발하고 있습니다. 이 이니셔티브는 380,000마일의 권리 도로를 가로지르는 필수적인 전력망 유지 관리와 환경 보존의 균형을 맞추는 것을 목표로 합니다. 미국 어류 및 야생 동물 서비스는 이 프로젝트를 지원하기 위해 2024-2025년 동안 듀크 에너지에게 100만 달러의 보조금을 수여했습니다. 이 계획은 백코 냄새 증후군과 서식지 손실에 영향을 받은 연방 법정 멸종 위기 또는 위협 받는 여덟 종의 박쥐를 다루고 있습니다. 회사는 2026년까지 허가가 발급될 것으로 기대하고 있으며, 보존 계획은 최대 30년까지 지속될 것입니다.

Duke Energy développe l'un des plus grands plans de conservation de l'habitat (HCP) basés sur des services publics, axé sur la protection des chauves-souris et la gestion de la végétation. L'initiative vise à équilibrer l'entretien nécessaire du réseau sur 380 000 milles de droits de passage avec la conservation de l'environnement. Le Service des pêches et de la faune des États-Unis a accordé à Duke Energy un subvention d'un million de dollars pour 2024-2025 afin de soutenir ce projet. Le plan concerne huit espèces de chauves-souris menacées ou en danger au niveau fédéral, affectées par le syndrome du nez blanc et la perte d'habitat. L'entreprise s'attend à obtenir l'émission des permis d'ici 2026, le plan de conservation devant durer jusqu'à 30 ans.

Duke Energy entwickelt einen der größten Habitat-Konservierungspläne (HCP), der sich auf den Schutz von Fledermäusen und das Management von Vegetation konzentriert. Die Initiative zielt darauf ab, die notwendige Wartung des Netzes über 380.000 Meilen von Nutzungsrechten mit dem Umweltschutz in Einklang zu bringen. Der U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hat Duke Energy einen 1-Million-Dollar-Zuschuss für 2024-2025 zur Unterstützung dieses Projekts gewährt. Der Plan zielt darauf ab, acht bundesrechtlich bedrohter oder gefährdeter Fledermausarten, die von dem weißen Nasensyndrom und dem Verlust des Lebensraums betroffen sind, zu adressieren. Das Unternehmen erwartet die Erteilung der Genehmigung bis 2026, wobei der Konservierungsplan bis zu 30 Jahre dauern wird.

Positive
  • Received $1 million federal grant for conservation efforts
  • Developing innovative industry-leading conservation approach
  • Plan will streamline operations and help control costs
  • 30-year permit will provide long-term operational certainty
Negative
  • Extended timeline until 2026 for permit implementation
  • Significant operational constraints due to endangered species protection requirements

Insights

This conservation initiative, while environmentally commendable, has minimal direct financial impact on Duke Energy's operations or stock value. The $1 million grant from USFWS is negligible relative to Duke's market cap of $87.8 billion. However, the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) could streamline future vegetation management operations, potentially reducing regulatory compliance costs and project delays across Duke's 380,000-mile infrastructure network.

The 30-year permit timeframe provides operational certainty and could help mitigate environmental compliance risks. This proactive approach to environmental management may also strengthen Duke's ESG profile, though the impact on share price will likely be minimal. The initiative primarily serves to maintain regulatory compliance and operational efficiency rather than generate new revenue streams.

Duke Energy's science-backed conservation plan aims to help endangered bat species through land management, conservation and more

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 12, 2024 / Duke Energy

By Emry McKinney | illumination Contributor

If bats make you think of Halloween and spooky movies, Brett Hartis, lead scientist in Duke Energy's Environmental Sciences group, would like to change your mind. "Bats aren't traditionally the most beautiful or popular animals. But they're amazing creatures that are a big part of our ecosystem, especially regarding pest control."

Scientists estimate that insect-eating bats save U.S. farmers billions of dollars each year by reducing crop damage and limiting the need for pesticides. And over 300 species of fruit depend on bats for pollination.

What's more: Bats are now facing new, unprecedented threats. That's why Hartis is leading a project at Duke Energy to develop a new approach to protect them. Known as a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), the project will create one of the largest utility-based HCPs in the country to focus on bats and vegetation management.

Why a new approach is needed

Vegetation management, including tree trimming and removal, is necessary as the company makes strategic grid investments to enhance reliability for 8.4 million electric utility customers across six states. But trees are also a crucial part of the ecosystem and natural beauty of our service areas, as well as habitats for many species including bats. When not hibernating, many live in trees and raise their young in the crevasses of the bark or within branches and leaf clusters.

"It's not either/or. As a company, we have to do both," said Scott Fletcher, manager of Duke Energy's Natural Resources group. "Advancing our clean energy transition requires the management of vegetation and a continued commitment to environmental stewardship and biodiversity."

In the past, only a few species in the company's service area were designated as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), so Duke Energy could address potential impacts by seasonally restricting work and obtaining permits on a project-by-project basis. That has changed as scientists monitor substantial declines in bat populations.

Eight species are now categorized as federally endangered or threatened. White-nose syndrome, an invasive fungal disease, is a leading cause of this decline.

"Today, the bats we need to protect are potentially everywhere and nowhere at once," Hartis said. "Some bat species' range includes nearly the whole Eastern United States, and pretty much any tree could be their home."

"Given the increased scope of the problem, our old approach of tree-by-tree avoidance simply isn't feasible," Fletcher added. "It wouldn't be good for our customers, good for our crews, or for the bats. We realized that we need to develop a new way forward."

What makes an HCP different?

The company realized a broader, more inclusive approach was needed, one that would protect covered bats while also facilitating necessary utility work along Duke Energy's more than 380,000 miles of right of way.

"We are developing an HCP because it is a comprehensive, big-picture approach," Fletcher said. "It's a cooperative effort between Duke Energy and USFWS, and a great example of bringing the private and public sectors together to work on challenging problems."

Cooperation and coordination are essential as the company sets an ambitious goal to avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts to covered bats, as well as support for long-term bat conservation through land management, conservation and protection.

A plan of this scope doesn't happen overnight. The company began initial outreach to stakeholders and data assembly in late 2023. Now they are in the process of collaborating with USFWS and will be working through the service's formal public involvement process until mid-2025, with a goal of permit issuance by 2026.

"That may seem like a long timeline, but it's very reasonable considering the scale of the project," Hartis said. "You have to remember that this HCP is very large and geographically diverse - it's designed to cover all parts of our service area, from the Midwest to the Carolinas and Florida."

Fletcher added, "Plus, the permit will last up to 30 years. That will mean greater certainty and efficiency for all parties. Having a plan like this in place will help to streamline our work, which in turn helps to control costs and speed advancements for our customers while also creating benefits for bats."

Endangered Species Conservation Fund

Showing their support for the project, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded Duke Energy a $1 million grant for 2024-2025, with the option to reapply annually, to facilitate the development of the HCP.

Leading the way

Innovation is a key component of Duke Energy's planning for the future - but innovation isn't just for power plants or grid technology. Innovative re-thinking is helping the company develop new comprehensive planning to protect bats while also making improvements to better serve customers.

The project could be a step forward for the utility industry. As one of the first utilities to pursue an HCP specifically for bats and vegetation management, Hartis said the company could establish an industry standard.

"It's incredibly exciting to see Duke Energy take on something of this scale," he said. "And I love making a difference for endangered bat species - especially because they are so frequently misunderstood. Hopefully, everyone will get more of an opportunity to get to know and appreciate bats."

View original content here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Duke Energy on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:
Spokesperson: Duke Energy
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/duke-energy
Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Duke Energy



View the original press release on accesswire.com

FAQ

What is Duke Energy's (DUK) new Habitat Conservation Plan for bats?

Duke Energy's Habitat Conservation Plan is a comprehensive conservation initiative designed to protect endangered bat species while managing vegetation along their 380,000-mile utility corridor, expected to be one of the largest utility-based HCPs in the country.

When will Duke Energy (DUK) implement their bat conservation permit?

Duke Energy expects to receive the permit by 2026, following a formal public involvement process with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through mid-2025.

How much funding did Duke Energy (DUK) receive for their bat conservation plan?

Duke Energy received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for 2024-2025, with the option to reapply annually.

How long will Duke Energy's (DUK) bat conservation permit last?

The Habitat Conservation Plan permit will last up to 30 years once implemented.

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