| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Defense bill language could help military officials point out risks from turbines earlier in development
Credit: By Gordon Block | Watertown Daily times | November 29, 2017 | www.watertowndailytimes.com ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Language in the National Defense Authorization Act could help military officials evaluate the risks of energy projects like wind turbines near posts and airfields earlier in their development.
The act, which has cleared both houses of Congress and is awaiting a signature by President Donald J. Trump, will require the Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse to conduct a preliminary review within 60 days of an application being received from the Secretary of Transportation.
If necessary, the clearinghouse will issue the developer a notice of presumed risk, which describes the military’s concerns and requests a discussion of actions to mitigate risk.
It also calls for filing of a project area and preliminary layout “at least one year before expected construction” near a military training route or within line-of-sight of any military air route or airport radar to give time for analysis.
Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Willsboro, said the language “will formalize the process” Department of Defense officials and developers use in the creation of such projects. In September, she wrote a letter to Army Chief of Staff and former Fort Drum commander Gen. Mark A. Milley about the potential impacts of wind turbines on the current and future missions at Fort Drum.
“I remain supportive of clean and renewable energy development in the North Country but also believe that we need to adequately assess its impact on military readiness,” she said in a statement to the Times.
The new language also gives a more formal definition for “adverse impact on military operations and readiness” to cover flight operations, research, development, testing, evaluation and training, and defines other terms related to the evaluation process.
The clearinghouse will essentially assume the work of the DOD Siting Clearinghouse, which was established in 2010.
Currently, when a project poses negative impact to national security, the clearinghouse uses Mitigation Response Teams to find ways to address issues with projects to allow it to proceed while preserving military operations.
The development of turbines near Fort Drum has caused some concern due to their impact on aviation and weather radar systems, and became a key part of discussions for the Fort Drum Joint Land Use Study, which assesses current and future areas of development conflict.
Turbine development has been met with some concern in Jefferson County, but in Lewis County they are supported by many officials, who have spoken positively about the economic benefit they have provided local municipalities and schools.
In October, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said his office will review the impact of turbines on the post.
“I see the potential danger, and it’s something I take very seriously,” he said.
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
| Wind Watch relies entirely on User Contributions |
 (via Stripe) |
 (via Paypal) |
Share:
[ Short URL: https://wind-watch.org/news/?p=85697 ]
