With a little less fanfare than other legislation considered Wednesday, the Oklahoma Senate gave unanimous approval to a bill which keeps wind farms from encroaching on military bases’ mission areas. House Bill 3561 author Senate Pro Tempore Mike Schulz believes the measure will protect the work and mission of Oklahoma military installations.
“The wind industry is expanding quickly in our state and we must protect our military bases,” said Schulz. “Our bases have raised concerns that the construction of wind facilities is negatively impacting flight training routes. These routes are difficult to alter due to environmental concerns and the need to survey new routes so we need to simply ensure that the wind farms are located a safe distance from bases and aren’t impeding the military’s work.”
Altus Air Force Base is in Schulz senate district.
HB 3561 requires a wind energy operation to first check with the FAA and the Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse before it can build or expand a wind farm. Additionally, wind companies would have to notify the Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission as well.
“Existing regulations already require companies to file construction notices with the FAA, OCC and the county,” said Schulz. “Federal guidelines have changed to streamline how military bases weigh in on an issue critical to their mission. This bill works in tandem with these federal guidelines.”
