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The following information summarizes the goals and strategies of the BWSR Habitat Friendly Utilities Program.
BWSR Habitat Friendly Utilities Program Goals and Strategies
*Indicates Initial priority steps
1) Increase Collaboration with a Wide Range of Partners
Strategies:
- *Engage a wide range of partners including utility companies, consultants, tribal governments, non-profits, federal, state and local governments, private companies, and Minnesota Residents.
- Conduct frequent outreach about the Habitat Friendly Utilities Program to partners.
- Host and support summits involving program partners.
2) Create a Program Structure for Long-term Success
Strategies:
- *Collaborate with a program advisory team and policy subcommittee to guide the program structure and strategies.
- *Focus on advancing co-benefits (habitat, water management, carbon sequestration, etc.) on existing and newly developing utility
projects, and adjoining lands. - Track program outcomes such as the number of partners involved, number of projects, wildlife benefitted, water storage, carbon sequestration, and other co-benefits.
- Keep the program flexible and adapt to partner needs and capabilities.
3) Build on the Success of the BWSR Habitat Friendly Solar Program
Strategies:
- *Maintain momentum of Habitat Friendly Solar (to be a sub initiative of Habitat Friendly Utilities).
- *Further document outcomes of Habitat Friendly Solar on the program’s website.
- *Develop additional solar site management guidance.
- *Assist solar companies by providing monitoring of projects to further assess co-benefits, and maintenance needs.
- *Collaborate with solar companies to add additional projects to the list of sites meeting the state Habitat Friendly Solar standard.
- Document innovative site establishment and management approaches and the cost-savings of Habitat Friendly Solar projects.
4) Provide Technical Assistance for the Planning and Management of Utility Corridors to Establish Native Vegetation and Establish Co-benefits
Strategies:
- *Review and provide guidance for newly planned corridors including seed mix recommendations.
- *Collaborate with partners to develop corridor management guidance for Minnesota including Minnesota assessment forms, plan examples, landowner letters, herbicide standards, seed mix recommendations
5) Support Pilot Projects to Build Collaboration and Test Innovative Approaches to Managing Utility Projects for Co-benefits
Strategies:
- *Find potential pilot projects though presentations at partner forums in the Spring of 2024, and through collaboration with the program’s advisory team.
- *Support of projects selected based on selection criteria.
6) Develop Effective Program Marketing, Communications and Outreach
Strategies:
- *Build a program webpage that provides information about the BWSR program, funding opportunities, case studies, program outcomes, and best practices.
- *Supports partners in communicating case studies and promote positive stories to the public.
- Summarize conservation management options for developers for different types of utility projects with cost saving information.
- Provide information about communicating/working with communities and private landowners.
- Add a new section to BWSR’s What’s Working website focused on utility projects.