Members of Congress urge White House support for wind farm development
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin announced that 36 members of Congress signed a letter to President Bush urging the White House Council on Environmental Quality to place a priority on identifying mitigation measures that would address possible wind turbine interference with radar systems. The letter expresses concern that current federal agency efforts may not adequately address mitigation. The letter reads in part:
WASHINGTON, DC – A bipartisan group of 36 members of Congress, including the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, sent a letter today to President Bush and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chairman James L. Connaughton asking that this interagency council strongly support and encourage wind farm development at the same time the Department of Defense (DOD) is studying the effects of wind turbines on military radar systems. The Members urge the White House Council to encourage ways to mitigate any potential interference from wind farms on radar installations.
In January, Congress passed a law requiring the DOD to study and report on whether wind turbines interfere with air defense radar. Until the study is completed, a moratorium has been placed on several wind power projects determined to be in the path of longrange
air defense radars. The study has yet to be completed, although the deadline for the report has already passed. Meanwhile, the wind farm moratorium continues, jeopardizing the development of critical wind projects throughout the country.
Projects in Wisconsin and other Midwestern states have been stopped by the moratorium. Read the complete letter and earlier posts on the moratorium.
