BILL NUMBER: S2694

SPONSOR: ORTT
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to location of
certain wind electric generation facilities

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This legislation would prohibit the construction or operation of a wind
generating facility located within forty miles of an airfield or
airbase.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends Section 168 of the public service law to prohibit the
construction or operation of a wind generating facility located within
forty miles of an airfield or airbase under jurisdiction of the Depart-
ment of Defense which is in active use. This section also covers air
traffic control radar sites, weather radar sites, or aircraft navi-
              

gations aids which are owned or operated by the DoD and are permanent
land-based structures at a fixed location.

Section 2 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Wind generating facilities located in close proximity of airfields and
airbases pose significant concerns both in the current operation of an
airbase, but more importantly the possibility exists that these turbines
could seriously imperil these airbases and the operations they take part
in now and in the future. When the Federal government undergoes Base
Realignment and Closures (BRAC) it is important that these military
facilities are not imperiled by encroachments such as wind turbines.

A recent report out of Corpus Christi has shed light onto the negative
impact wind turbines have on radar readings and installations in light
of this it is critical to take into consideration the proximity these
wind turbines have to an airfield or airbase.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S. 198 of 2019/20; Referred to Energy

S. 1755 of 2017/2018; advanced to third reading.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.