A California wind farm is on track to get the first-ever permit allowing it to avoid prosecution and penalties in the event of eagle deaths from farm operations . The U.S . Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday it expects to grant a permit to the Shiloh IV Wind Project , a 3,500-acre wind farm near Rio Vista , California , within 30 days that would allow for the deaths of five golden or bald eagles over a five-year period without the wind farm 's operators being penalized . `` The permit , the first of its kind , requires the company to engage in conservation measures that protect the local population of golden eagles , while providing greater regulatory certainty for the company , '' the U.S . Fish and Wildlife Service said in a statement . Shiloh , which is a subsidiary of EDF Renewable Energy , also produced what the federal service described as a conservation plan to help minimize the wind farm 's impact , not only on eagles , but on bats and other migratory birds , as well . `` The Shiloh IV eagle permit sets a precedent for proactive and collaborative eagle conservation at wind farms in northern California , '' according to a statement from service director Dan Ashe . Garry George is the Renewable Energy Director for Audubon California , a state program of the National Audubon Society . He says the conditions of the permit are still unclear because the permit has not been issued yet . `` We do n't like it when any bird is killed . We certainly do n't like it when any eagle is killed , '' George told CNN Thursday . But the group has supported the permits as a way to work with the industry to help it minimize the number of bird deaths on wind farms . `` We think the permit process is one way to do that . '' He added `` we hope it provides conservation , but we do n't know if it will . '' It 's unclear exactly how many eagles , in addition to other birds , are killed by the powerful turbines on wind farms every year . Only a small percentage of farms actually count the birds that are killed by the power turbine blades . `` Farms are n't required to count the number of birds killed ... . I 've seen various numbers . I do n't think we really know , but it 's a lot , '' George said . Bald eagles , in particular , are protected under federal laws , even though they are no longer on the endangered species list . A wind farm could incur steep penalties in the event of eagle deaths . The U.S . Fish and Wildlife Service says the permits help protect wind farms from accidental eagle deaths . The Shiloh wind project , northeast of San Francisco , is expected to help California meet its goal of producing 33 % of its energy from renewable sources by 2020 .
The California wind farm is already in operation . Sometimes eagles and other birds fly into the massive blades . Audubon Society : `` We are cautiously optimistic `` about the permit .