Durbin Calls on DOD to Change Wind Farm Policy

DURBIN CALLS ON DOD TO CHANGE WIND FARM POLICY

Friday, June 16, 2006

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced a measure that would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to examine new wind farm facilities on a case by case basis. The amendment would reverse a recent DOD policy to halt the construction of wind farms within the line of site of a military radar installation. The measure would also require the DOD to submit a report by December 30th, 2006 that would create a centralized process for evaluating wind farms and would outline possible mitigation techniques that would allow military radars and wind facilities to coexist. Two weeks ago, Durbin and 5 other Midwestern senators questioned the policy of halting wind farm development nationwide.

"The decision by the Bush Administration to issue a blanket order to halt windmill construction throughout the country is unnecessary and may have serious negative economic effects," said Durbin. "If the Administration believes there is a legitimate concern, we should examine wind farms on a case by case basis and only take action against those that pose a real threat to radar installations."

The President recently signed into law a measure which called on the DOD to submit a report to Congress on the effects of wind farms on military readiness, specifically investigating whether windmill facilities interfere with military radar. While the report is being completed, the FAA has issued "Notice of Presumed Hazard" letters to more than a dozen wind farms and facilities in Illinois, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota, thereby preventing these projects from moving forward.

"There are military installations, throughout the country, currently operating within range of wind farms without radar interference problems," said Durbin. "We should not put an unnecessary hold on one of our country's most valuable sources of clean alternative energy. DOD needs to respond quickly on how we can mitigate any interference with military radar so that we don't stand in the way of wind energy expansion."

On June 2, Senators Durbin and Feingold questioned the Administration's decision to delay wind farm facility construction and sent letters to the DOD and FAA expressing concern with the government order to contest installation of wind farm facilities across the country. In the letter, the senators stressed the harmful impact of the temporary halt on wind facility construction, noting that "[p]rohibiting, even temporarily, the development of wind energy facilities within those areas would be a considerable setback for efforts to increase our country's energy independence."

In addition to Durbin and Feingold, the letters were signed by four other senators including Herb Kohl (D-WI), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Barack Obama (D-IL).

http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=257240&&