Wind turbines have a negative impact on radar, putting military aviators at risk from some civilian aircraft, according to a Department of Defense letter obtained by The Daily Caller.
Defense Deputy Assistant Secretary James Balocki sent the Navy study to Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, detailing how interference from wind farms could have a deleterious effect on military preparedness, the DC reported.
"The general conclusion of the study confirmed that primary radar detection may be significantly degraded in airspace immediately above wind farms and in some cases beyond the wind farm," Balocki wrote, the DC reported.
"When flying in such areas of degraded primary radar coverage, there is increased risk to Navy pilots from civilian aircraft operating without active transponders."
Balocki stated that if there isn't a satisfactory option to mitigate the interference caused by turbines, he would recommend the DOD oppose future plans to build wind farms near military bases, the DC reported.
"Determining when the overall impact of wind turbine development has reached the 'tipping point,' and determining when further operational mitigations by the Department of Defense represent an unacceptable risk to national security, presents a complex and difficult issue," the DC quoted Balocki's letter.
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