Duke Energy has announced plans to convert two electric transmission towers in Indiana that have reached the end of their service life into nesting platforms for bald eagles. These towers are located in the floodplain of the Wabash River in the Wabashiki Fish and Wildlife Area in West Terre Haute. Converting the towers will help contribute to the state’s efforts to conserve the bald eagle population.

Beginning next month, Duke Energy will deploy a special helicopter crew to strip the 50-foot transmission towers of inactive electrical lines and equipment. Once the towers have been cleared off, the helicopter crews will install two nesting platforms, measuring eight feet wide and six feet long, at the top of the towers. The platforms are specifically designed to hold bald eagle nests, which are the largest nests of any North American bird and typically span five to six feet in width and two feet in depth.

“Conservation is an integral part of who we are as a company,” said Rick Burger, government and community relations manager at Duke Energy. “We’re proud to partner with the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department to repurpose these transmission towers in an innovative and sustainable way to build a better future for the environment and the communities we serve.”

The project will be completed in early September 2022, and bald eagles should nest in the platforms the following January or February. In the future, the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department hopes to build a viewing platform for visitors to safely observe the eagles that may settle on the nesting platforms.

“A lot of hard work has gone into restoring the bald eagle population in Indiana over the last 50 years, and their recovery is one of our state’s great conservation success stories,” said Adam Grossman, superintendent of the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department. “The creation of nesting towers like these have been critical in supporting their survival here, and we’re grateful for partners like Duke Energy that are finding creative ways to support these majestic birds and allow them to thrive right here in West Terre Haute.”

Tags : Game Changers, All