10,000 MW of Renewables Pass Military Muster

by | Jul 18, 2011

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Over 10 gigawatts (10,000 MW) of renewable power have cleared a significant hurdle, with the Department of Defense’s finding that 229 such projects will have little or no impact on military missions.

The department reviewed 249 projects proposed in 35 states and Puerto Rico. The projects included 30 solar facilities, and wind installations with a combined 6,500 turbines, along with a handful of transmission lines and three geothermal projects.

Of the 249 projects reviewed, the DoD found that 20 may pose adverse impacts on military readiness and operations. It said it would undertake further studies and developer negotiations on these projects, in consultation with appropriate federal, state and local agencies.

The largest projects with no DoD objection include a 314-turbine project in Breckenridge, Mich.; the 251-turbine Red Pine Wind Project in Marshal, Minn.; another 251-turbine project by Ceilo Wind Services in McCarney, Texas; and Milford 3, a Utah facility of up to 300 turbines.

Projects winning DoD approval are planned for Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont and Wyoming.

“These new energy projects will increase the nation’s energy security while ensuring that our military services have the test capabilities, training venues, and equipment to help keep America safe,” the department said, in a statement.

The projects of concern included two of the three geothermal facilities – Salt Wells in Nevada and Coyote Canyon in California – and one solar project, NV Energy in Nevada. The other 17 are wind projects, with some of the largest a 183-turbine Alta Windpower development in Mojave, Calif., the 120-turbine Saddle Butte installation in Arlington, Ore., and a 129-turbine Aero Energy facility in Tehachapi, Caif.

Of the projects requiring further study, eight are in California, four in Nevada, two in Oregon, two in Texas and one each in Hawaii, North Carolina, New York and Utah.

The complete list of the projects can be viewed at http://go.usa.gov/BCe .

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