Dead eagles were casualties of Duke Energy wind farms. Duke says it has a solution.

Duke Energy Renewables, a commercial unit of the Charlotte-based company, has shown both the promise of wind energy and its ecological cost: Spinning turbines sometimes kill soaring eagles and other birds.

In 2013, Duke Renewables pleaded guilty in federal court to killing 14 golden eagles and 149 other migratory birds at two Wyoming wind farms. The case was the first criminal prosecution for killing birds at wind projects in the U.S.

Duke agreed to pay $1 million in fines and restitution, and to develop a plan to prevent more bird deaths at its four Wyoming farms. The high-tech solution Duke announced Tuesday will be installed at one of the farms where eagles were killed.

The technology, from IdentiFlight International, blends artificial intelligence with precision optics to detect approaching eagles and shut down turbines. Duke said it will be the first wind operator to commercially deploy the units.

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