The Effect of Wind Turbines on Civilian and Military Radar Seen As Problematic.

[NNadir]

Wind towers appear to be the most harmless source of energy — standing tall with their massive blades turning in the wind at speeds close to 170 mph at their tips.

That's not entirely true, Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart explained to the House Armed Services Committee earlier this month. Renuart, a fighter pilot and commander of U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, testified that wind farms and towers can disrupt U.S. military and civilian radar systems, a problem that is growing along with the popularity of wind energy.

The four-star general also commands the North American Aerospace Defense Command, which monitors air and space traffic worldwide. He told the House panel that NORAD is establishing an evaluation team to scrutinize potential problems with the location or operation of wind farms and towers. But Congress needs to establish more oversight to prevent wind-energy projects from interfering with military radar systems, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration and federal weather agencies, he said.

"A formal vetting process is required with the necessary authorities to prevent projects from interfering with the defense of North America, while supporting the expansion of alternative energy sources, such as wind farms," Renuart told the House committee.

Wind towers can interfere with radar in two ways: their height and their spinning blades.



The journal Technology Review puts it this way: "The turbines can reflect the radar systems' microwave signals, creating a shadow that erases airplanes from radar operators' screens and clutters those screens with the turbines' signature. The signature is always changing, as blades accelerate and decelerate in the wind."

It's not a new problem, but one that has grown in severity with the popularity of wind power and wind towers...

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/article_42138ee4-406b-11df-8da5-001cc4c03286.html">Ill wind blowing: Towers foul up radar.

Not to worry, the http://www.vestas.com/Admin/Public/DWSDownload.aspx?File=%2FFiles%2FFiler%2FEN%2FInvestor%2FShareholder%2F01_2007_Shareholder_information_UK.pdf">Vestas Wind, Oil and Gas Company is all over the case, according to the article. They probably can afford to hire a couple of real scientists, now that they've worked their way out of that nasty business of having to honor 5 year warranties, by waiting 5 years for the existing ones to expire and not offering any similar warranties.

[joshcryer]

1. I back wind 100% near and around military radar facilities.

:D

[NNadir]

2. Good for you. I'm now against it EVERYWHERE. It's a waste of precious resources.

[immoderate]

3. I hope they don't turn off the wind.

--imm