Senate Bill 377, also known as the “Military Base Protection Act,” recently received approval from the House Energy and Public Utilities Committee, according to a story in Carolina Journal by Don Carrington. While the bill made it through committee, it did not elude alterations. The bill was amended to restrict wind turbines near military bases rather than banning them outright, as the bill previously proposed. According to Carrington, the amended bill now requires:
[The Department of Environmental Quality] will notify the commanding officers of N.C. military bases and the commanding officers of military installations in another state if the military installation is within 50 nautical miles of the proposed wind turbines, the bill says.
Carrington further explains:
The notification will include a map showing specific locations of wind turbines. It will also include a request for the commanding officer or his designee for technical information related to any adverse impacts on the military operations that may be affected by the turbines. DEQ will also notify county governments and municipalities where wind facilities are proposed and request they provide information on potential adverse impacts.
The bill passed through the Senate June 12. It is now in the House Committee on Rules, Calendar, and Operations.
Read the full story here. Learn more about Energy and the Environment here.
