Curbing turbine installs near military bases hoped to stop 200-MW NY project

As part of a fight against the 200-MW Lighthouse Wind project in New York, legislation has been introduced in both chambers of the US Congress to discourage wind farm development in close proximity to military installations.

US wind and solar power developer Apex Clean Energy is planning to install about 70 wind turbines in Somerset and Yates. Under the plan, turbines could be built near the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS), which has raised concerns from local residents and lawmakers.

“I cannot condone any activity which puts the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station’s (NFARS) future operations and viability at risk,” Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) said last week, explaining that “massive wind turbines” can negatively impact a military base’s potential new missions and future operations.

The congressman introduced on Tuesday the “Protection of Military Airfields from Wind Turbine Encroachment Act” with the goal to ensure that new turbines installed within a 40-mile radius of a military installation will be deemed ineligible for renewable energy tax credits. Senator John Cornyn, R-TX introduced a companion bill in the Senate.

“I fully support Congressman Collins' proposed legislation to protect military installations from encroachment from industrial wind turbine projects,” said Yates Town Supervisor James Simon.

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