February 7, 2013
North Carolina

Local military raises concerns about wind energy development

By: Madeleine Wright | 9 On Your Side | Published: February 06, 2013 | www2.wnct.com

BAYBORO, N.C. – Our local military is cautioning against the potential dangers of alternative energy.

Local military officials representing Cherry Point say wind farms can be hazardous for their pilots. They met with Pamlico County commissioners to talk about the issue in Bayboro Wednesday night.

Several wind farm projects are in the works for Pamlico County, but the military says the tall turbines could interfere with radar signals and cause their fighter jets to crash during training missions.

“If directly in their path, it’s very dangerous,” said Michael B. Evers of Marine Corps Installations East. “If you run into one, you probably won’t survive.”

In the last three years, 30 different energy companies have approached MCIEast with questions about possible wind development in eastern North Carolina, said David Plummer, regional airspace coordinator for MCIEast.

The Marine Corps has been meeting with energy officials to find a way to meet both alternative energy goals and national security interests, said Evers.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/02/07/local-military-raises-concerns-about-wind-energy-development/