Wind farm would interfere with signals

The Associated Press

Plans have stalled for a proposed wind farm on Fire Island in Cook Inlet near Anchorage, Alaska after the Federal Aviation Administration found the turbines would disrupt the main air traffic control radar at the nearby international airport.

Electromagnetic waves from Chugach Electric Association’s proposed 24-windmill project would be so strong they would warp the signal at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, according to radar engineers hired by the Federal Aviation Administration. According to the FAA’s engineers, the windmills proposed by the state’s largest utility company could generate electromagnetic fields that could blind air traffic controllers to incoming planes, or cause them to see planes where there actually are none. Officials with the FAA and Chugach said they are continuing to work together on the problem, though it’s unclear what, if anything, can be done.

FAA spokesman Allan Kenitzer said the agency is “assessing methods of modifying the radar to avoid any adverse effects” to airport operations but would not be more specific.

The original concept was for 33 windmills on Fire Island generating up to 3 megawatts each, which in peak conditions could hit 100 megawatts of power, about a fifth of the energy Anchorage can demand. The utility scaled down the idea to two dozen 1.5-megawatt windmills.