[CPEO-MEF] ENERGY, ENCROACHMENT: Texas wind turbines and military radar

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Military officials say wind turbines can stir up problems for bases


By DAVE MONTGOMERY
Fort Worth Star Telegram
April 27, 2010

AUSTIN -- Giant wind turbines dotting the Texas landscape have made the 
Lone Star State the nation's leader in the development of wind power, 
but they may also pose a hazard to military installations by interfering 
with crucial radar operations, state lawmakers were told Tuesday.

Standing 250 feet high with 150-foot-long blades, the wind turbines 
could cause false signals on radar and endanger aerial maneuvers or 
produce erroneous information about storm conditions, several military 
officials told the House Committee on Defense and Veterans' Affairs.

Interviewed afterward, the officials said they are unaware of crashes or 
serious accidents resulting from radar interference but expressed 
concern that windmill encroachment around the state's military bases 
could become a growing problem.

Navy Capt. Tracy "T.D." Smyers, commander of Naval Air Station Fort 
Worth, who also testified, said the issue isn't a problem for his 
installation since there is minimal wind production in North Texas. But 
he offered suggestions on how communities can work together with 
military installations to resolve such conflicts, including consulting 
with base officials.


...

For the entire article, see
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/04/27/2147388/military-officials-say-wind-turbines.html

--


Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org



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