Air Force concerns about radar interference stall huge Oregon wind energy farm

The Air Force is holding up construction of an Oregon wind farm that would be the largest in the country amid concerns that the farm's 300-plus new turbines will interfere with transmissions from a radar station in Fossil. Caithness Energy, developer of the Shepherds Flat wind energy project in north-central Oregon, has its construction contractor on site and hopes to break ground May 1. The project will provide 706 construction jobs and millions in royalty payments for farmers and ranchers in Gilliam and Morrow counties, Caithness says. But the Federal Aviation Administration, with backing from the Air Force, issued a "notice of presumed hazard" in March, barring construction of any towers above "0 feet." The company hasn't been able to resolve the issue, even with Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley trying to run interference. "We're just sitting here in no man's land," said Les Gelber, a Caithness Energy partner. Air Force officials could not be reached for comment late Wednesday, and it's unclear how many other potential wind farms are affected. Last month, the industry said more than a dozen projects are stalled...more