WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) was joined today by Congressmen Blake Farenthold (TX-27) and Walter B. Jones (NC-3) to introduce legislation that would curb the installation of wind turbines in close proximity to military installations.
Congressmen Collins, Farenthold, and Jones introduced the “Protection of Military Airfields from Wind Turbine Encroachment Act” in an effort to ensure that any new wind turbines built within a 50-mile radius of a military installation will be deemed ineligible for the Wind Production Tax Credit. Full text of the legislation can be read here. A companion bill was introduced in the United States Senate by Senator John Cornyn, R-TX.
“I cannot condone any activity which puts the operations of our military installations at risk,” said Congressman Chris Collins. “Massive wind turbines built in such close proximity to military installations, such as the ones being proposed in Western New York, can negatively impact a base’s daily operations and future viability. This legislation introduces a commonsense solution to protect the vital operations of our country’s military installations.”
“Wind turbines can put our service members in unnecessarily dangerous flying environments,” said Congressman Blake Farenthold. “Military aviators need to focus on flying, not worry about radar failing to pick up other planes. Without this legislation, communities could see a negative impact when military bases are no longer able to carry out their missions.”
“We must prioritize the safety of our service members and the operational integrity of our military installations,” saidCongressman Walter B. Jones. “Taxpayers have made significant investments in our military facilities in order to provide for our national defense. Those investments and that mission must take precedence. I thank my colleagues, Congressmen Chris Collins and Blake Farenthold, for their work on this important issue.”
Collins’ support of the bill comes following an Apex Clean Energy proposal to build 70 propeller turbines amid farms along Lake Ontario. While Collins says he has concerns about the impact that this plan may have on the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, the operations group commander for the 914th Airlift Wing, which operates out of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station has said that the proposed wind turbines would have no effect on their operations.
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