Radar Systems Clash with Wind Farms

U.S. wind farm developers are facing growing opposition from the U.S. military because of potential interference with government radar systems from wind turbines.

About 9,000 megawatts of wind projects have been abandoned or delayed because of potential conflicts with radar systems run by both the Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration, according to a spokesperson for the American Wind Energy Association.

Conflicts have centered in the Mojave Desert, a 20,000-square mile zone of land and airspace used by the military for testing. For instance, Horizon Wind Energy recently withdrew three wind project applications in the area.

The Energy Department maintains the problem can be solved through new technologies that would better distinguish wind turbines from aircraft.