PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Defense Department has decided that the risk of eight planned Oregon and Washington wind energy projects interfering with a military radar station in northcentral Oregon is manageable.
The projects would have a combined 1,128 turbines. The Oregonian says Friday’s decision gives the national security green light to six projects with 869 turbines in Oregon, including Iberdrola Renewables’ 225-turbine Montague project in northcentral Oregon.
Radar settings at the Fossil surveillance station were tweaked in September to reduce interference. Defense Deputy Undersecretary for Installations and Environment Dorothy Robyn says the station will also be the military’s key test site for technological upgrades designed to address similar interference problems.
The Defense Department had placed holds on two of the eight projects — all close to approval by the Federal Aviation Administration. Robyn says it pulled the holds on the two projects and approved the other six.
