On Friday June 15, the Pentagon released a report examining the impacts of wind turbines on the PAVE PAWS radar facility at the Massachusetts Military Reservation. The report concluded that utility scale wind turbines in close proximity to PAVE PAWS could have a significant impact on military radar systems. 

PAVE PAWS is an integral component of the Defense Department’s missile warning and space satellite tracking system and plans are being made to upgrade the system even further.  Until now, there have been conflicting reports on how PAVE PAWS could be affected by radar interference associated with wind turbines.

For years the Air Force has contended that operations of the PAVE PAWS radar would not be affected by Cape Wind or other wind turbines in surrounding communities. However, Defense Department officials have been far more cautious and have stated that radar interference could complicate operations at PAVE PAWS. In October, the Defense Department released a report documenting interference from wind farms and called the previous Air Force analysis of Cape Wind flawed.  Last fall, the Pentagon asked the Missile Defense Agency to take a closer look.

In this new report, the Defense Department once again confirmed that utility scale wind turbines can have a significant impact on the operation of the facility.  To protect PAVE PAWS from interference, the Defense Department is establishing a buffer zone that restricts wind energy development within “approximately 25 kilometers.”

This exclusion zone includes the towns of Falmouth, Mashpee, Barnstable, Bourne, Sandwich, the Massachusetts Military Reservation, a portion of Plymouth, a small area within Buzzards Bay.

The Pentagon study places the Cape Wind project just outside the approximate boundary. The Defense Department also examined Hull’s proposed offshore wind farm and determined it would not impact PAVE PAWS.

Congressman Bill Delahunt called the report “further confirmation that radar interference is a real issue and not a myth. In order to develop wind energy on Cape Cod and elsewhere, these conflicting reports within the Defense Department must be reconciled, the impacts must be thoroughly assessed, and mitigation measures clearly identified.”

“While the Pentagon has reached a consensus on the issue of radar interference, I am very concerned about the vagueness of their recommendations and the lack of clarity in the delineation of the buffer zone. It would appear that the Defense Department is banning or restricting all utility scale wind turbines within this “approximately 25 kilometers” area. The report suggests there will be further studies and guidance, but the report gives very little information on when this guidance will be provided and what types of projects can proceed in the meantime.” 

“We have a number of communities on Cape Cod and officials at Otis very interested in wind energy development. I strongly support these efforts. To sustain momentum, it is important that the Pentagon specify what types of turbines and wind energy projects are subject to these new restrictions; give precise guidance on the recommended mitigation; and clearly delineate the exact nature of this exclusion zone so that we know exactly which areas of Cape Cod are affected.  This work must proceed immediately. We need answers, not more questions.”

To view the Defense Department report released to our office on Friday, please click here. 

To review a recent news article about this controversy, please click here.

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