March 26, 2018
New York

Wind farms near Fort Drum bill heading for state Assembly floor

WWNY | Posted: Mar 25, 2018 | www.wwnytv.com

A bill aimed at helping Fort Drum training needs is on its way to the Assembly floor.

Assemblywoman Addie Jenne submitted a amended bill she proposed earlier this year that would ban state subsidies for wind projects in specific areas that could affect Fort Drum’s radar systems.

The bill passed the Energy Committee and is now waiting to be voted on by the full Assembly.

Jenne said there are about ten new proposed wind farms have been or are under construction around Fort Drum that have a major impact on training operations.

The bill would affect projects within ten miles of Wheeler-Sack Army airfield and within 15 miles of the Montague Doppler Weather Radar in the town of Lowville.

“We’re still going to be able to build facilities around the North Country and all other types of renewables,” said Jenne. “It’s just making sure that we are taking the sacrifice that the men and women in our armed services take for us seriously. We’re doing everything we can to support them and keeping them safe.”

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush was one of four committee members to oppose the bill.

He said it still needs more details as to exactly which wind projects would be okay and which projects would interfere too much with Fort Drum.

He suggests ironing out those details before sending to to the Assembly floor.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/03/26/wind-farms-near-fort-drum-bill-heading-for-state-assembly-floor/