"The Department of the Interior [Friday] released voluntary guidelines aimed at helping wind energy project developers avoid and minimize impacts of land-based wind projects on wildlife, particularly birds."

"The voluntary guidelines, which [took effect March 23], are designed to be used for all utility-scale, community-scale, and distributed land-based wind energy projects on both private and public lands.

Some bird conservation organizations are on board with the new voluntary guidelines, but others say a mandatory permitting and inspection system would offer better protection."

Environment News Service had the story March 23, 2012. [2]