At WEST, we’ve been at the forefront of environmental consulting for the energy and power industry since 1990. Our team of experienced scientists, biologists, and statisticians supports clients in navigating complex regulatory landscapes while promoting sustainable energy development. From renewable energy projects like wind and solar to traditional power infrastructure, WEST provides data-driven solutions for impact assessment, natural resource management, and environmental compliance.
With strong partnerships across government agencies, utilities, and conservation organizations, we offer science-backed strategies that help energy projects meet both operational goals and environmental standards.
Our Expertise in Energy and Power
- Environmental impact assessments
- Wildlife and natural resource monitoring
- Regulatory compliance and permitting (National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, etc.)
- Renewable energy development (wind, solar, transmission)
- Post-construction monitoring and mitigation strategies
- Habitat conservation planning
Mining
For decades, WEST has provided natural resource solutions to the mining industry, offering services from environmental assessments to restoration and mitigation planning. Our team supports mining projects on the ground with wildlife, vegetation, and aquatic surveys, as well as wetland and waterbody mapping, and environmental monitoring. WEST can also leverage our extensive knowledge of biostatistical analysis and modeling, environmental impact assessments, environmental protection plans, and reclamation services to provide added value to mining projects.
Further, WEST is well-versed in regulatory permitting for various regulatory requirements under federal, state, provincial, and territorial acts, including storm water permitting, monitoring, and compliance reporting. With a focus on credible, data-driven solutions, WEST helps mining clients achieve sustainable operations while mitigating environmental impacts.
Offshore Energy
WEST addresses the ecological and regulatory challenges of offshore wind development through field assessments, approved survey protocols, and advanced analytics. We specialize in bird and bat monitoring, collision risk modeling, marine mammal and fisheries impact assessments, and compensatory mitigation. Our team designs and deploys technologies like machine learning, GPS biologging, radar systems, and acoustic monitoring to support offshore energy solutions. With decades of experience, our biologists and statisticians study marine wildlife including seabirds, shorebirds, marine mammals, and fish. We’ve developed collision risk models, tested detection systems on turbines, and used biologging to quantify flight metrics. WEST supports offshore and coastal projects across the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of America, Great Lakes, and global locations.
Oil and Gas
WEST offers tailored environmental consulting for the oil and gas industry, focusing on impact assessments, compliance studies, and permitting across the US and Canada. Our scientists conduct field surveys, technical reporting, and agency consultations to meet project-specific needs while adhering to rigorous scientific standards. With expertise in wildlife monitoring and natural resource protection, we help clients navigate the regulatory landscape efficiently and responsibly.
Pipelines
WEST has extensive experience conducting surveys for various types of pipelines and pipeline construction projects, including several large multi-state/multi-province pipeline projects and many smaller intrastate pipeline projects throughout the US and Canada. Our services support compliance with government environmental regulations including environmental assessments and environmental impact statements as well as Federal Energy Regulatory Commission permits. Our team provides the necessary permitting and biological survey support to minimize potential impacts to natural resources.
WEST has extensive experience providing environmental support for pipeline construction. WEST has contributed to several high profile and large-scale pipelines spanning multiple provinces in Canada.
Power Delivery Infrastructure
WEST provides environmental consulting for projects that transmit and distribute energy including transmission and distribution power lines, substations, and power plants. Our services encompass the entire project from inception to implementation and operations. Our experts provide a niche service evaluating and implementing measures to minimize avian and other wildlife contacts, enhancing system reliability, and reducing potential impacts to wildlife from power line and substation operation. In addition, WEST provides biological surveys to assist in project planning, routing, and construction and operation to minimize impacts to natural resources. These surveys also inform various permitting services WEST provides from eagle nest disturbance permits to Endangered Species Act compliance.
Solar Energy
From site selection to restoration and ecological monitoring during operations, WEST supports the full lifecycle of solar projects across the US and Canada with environmental planning, permitting, and natural resource management expertise. Our work includes pre- and post-construction wildlife and botanical surveys, planning and environmental permitting support, wetland and waterbody assessments, ecosystem services and biodiversity frameworks, and restoration planning for solar facilities. We collaborate with WEST experts on Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act compliance for solar projects, when needed. We also engage in innovative research to address complex resource issues within the solar industry to both better understand agency concerns and assess the effectiveness of our clients’ environmental social governance (ESG) efforts. We understand how to evaluate the existing ecological conditions, efficiently navigate environmental permitting processes, and work with stakeholders to help clients meet ecological sustainability goals.
Wind Energy
As industry leaders in wind energy/wildlife interactions, WEST provides expert consultation on navigating potential natural resource concerns at every phase of the project. Our extensive experience includes hundreds of wind site studies across the US and Canada, deep agency relationships, and contributions to federal advisory committees shaping wind energy guidelines. With a comprehensive library of wind power research, we help clients navigate regulatory landscapes with scientifically sound, cost-effective solutions.
Representative Projects
Discover WEST’s library of scientific publications and reports highlighting our work in environmental research, wildlife monitoring, renewable energy, and data-driven solutions.
Partner with WEST for Energy and Power Solutions
WEST’s science-based, regulatory-compliant solutions help energy and power projects thrive while maintaining environmental stewardship.
Whether you’re developing a new renewable energy site or navigating complex permitting processes, our team is ready to support your goals.
