FAQs

WECAT LLC was formed with the intent of creating a coordinated and consistent California condor conservation program across the 24 WECAT LLC member companies to address increasing risk of injury or mortality of the species resulting from their increased presence of the species in the area, as well as to provide mitigation that will fully offset these potential impacts and ultimately benefit the California condor population as a whole.

More information about the members of WECAT LLC can be found on our “Co-Permittees” page.

The Peregrine Fund is a non-profit organization that was started in 1970 with the goal of restoring the Peregrine Falcon from the brink of extinction. In the 50 years since, The Peregrine Fund has expanded their mission to conserve birds of prey worldwide. Since 1995, more than 300 California condors have hatched through their condor breeding program alone! The funding WECAT has committed to The Peregrine Fund over the next 15 years is estimated to result in the release of an additional 35 adult condors into the population.

For more information about The Peregrine Fund and their work with raptors and other birds of prey, please [CLICK HERE] to visit their website.

WECAT LLC is helping the recovery of the California condor population by committing to provide funding with the specific purpose to breed, rear, and release 35 condors into the wild population over the next 15 years. This funding will be provided to The Peregrine Fund, a non-profit organization with a proven track record in successfully breeding condors for release into the wild, and will be used to build new condor breeding pens as well as operational funding to support their efforts.

In addition to funding commitments, WECAT LLC’s co-permittees have committed to a number of operational practices designed to minimize potential conflicts between condors and wind facility infrastructure. This includes proactive monitoring for and removal of carrion and carcasses to reduce the likelihood condors will gather in the project area to feed.

WECAT LLC members also participate in a condor detection program administered by a third party. By participating in this program, operators receive a notification if a tagged condor is flying within 1 kilometer of project turbines, has entered the project area, and when it is no longer in the project area. This advance notice allows operators to curtail turbines, significantly slowing or stopping blade rotation, before the condors reach the project’s turbines.

More information about condors can be found in the following great resources:

The Peregrine Fund maintains a page about their captive breeding, rearing, and release program, which also contains information about these very special birds. The Peregrine Fund is also the recipient of a 15-year funding commitment from WECAT LLC. To learn more [CLICK HERE].

US Fish and Wildlife Service’s species page, which also includes information about their Condor Recovery Program. To learn more [CLICK HERE].

To view the final Condor Conservation Plan approved by USFWS [CLICK HERE].

As the California condor population grows and its range expands into the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area, there is an increase in the potential risk that a condor may be injured or killed by a wind turbine. While there has not been a documented case of this occurring in the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area to date, the WECAT LLC co-permittees chose to apply for a take permit to establish a proactive plan that provides minimization and mitigation measures in support of two primary goals across the entire Tehachapi Wind Resource Area. Those goals are:

• To minimize the likelihood of California condor mortality caused by covered energy generation activities in the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area, and
• To enhance the conservation and recovery of California condors by expanding the capacity of The Peregrine Fund’s captive breeding program to rear and release condors into the wild population.

Yes! New projects need to meet all requirements noted in the Condor Conservation Plan, Incidental Take Permit, and make the same commitments as existing co-permittees. To request more information or to connect with the team who authored the WECAT LLC’s CCP and managed acquisition of WECAT LLC’s ITP, please visit our “Contact” page.