Ørsted, a leading clean energy company in the U.S., has donated more than $2 million to The Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy to support voluntary land conservation and restoration efforts near its Sunflower Wind Farm. The wind farm, which is located in Marion County, Kansas, began operations in 2023.

Following discussions with TCF and the Nature Conservancy, Ørsted made a commitment to a multifaceted conservation approach encompassing both habitat protection and restoration initiatives in the Flint Hills grassland. Such initiatives advance Ørsted’s commitment to building clean energy projects in harmony with nature and creating a net-positive biodiversity impact for all new projects starting in 2030.

With Ørsted’s financial support, TCF will work with local partners and landowners to create and put into action tailored conservation agreements that will safeguard prairie areas, protect biodiversity and secure a sustainable future for ranchers. These initiatives will result in the preservation of tallgrass prairie habitats while concurrently allowing for the continued private ownership and use of working lands. 

Outcome Highlights

The Conservation Fund is thrilled to collaborate with Ørsted in preserving essential tallgrass prairie land, which not only sustains the region’s diverse wildlife and thriving ranching economy, but also presents the green energy sector with a collaborative framework for addressing its environmental footprint. 

The Flint Hills region encompasses 4.5 million acres of tallgrass prairie spanning eastern Kansas and Oklahoma, making up approximately two-thirds of the remaining tallgrass prairie in existence. Within this unique landscape, one can find vital habitat for various grassland birds such as the greater prairie-chicken, upland sandpiper, Henslow’s sparrow and numerous other species. Additionally, this area supports a rich diversity of wildlife, including the easternmost population of pronghorn, the fastest land animal in North America.

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• News: “Ørsted Partners with The Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy to Protect and Restore Native Tallgrass Prairie near Sunflower Wind Farm”