Air Force’s concerns dash wind farm plan

Monday, July 15, 2002 | 9:35 a.m.

Plans for one of the largest wind farms in the nation at the Nevada Test Site have been scrapped because Air Force officials said turbines generating electricity would interfere with radar signals for pilot training.

The National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Operations Office on Friday announced the end of the $130 million project atop Shoshone Mountain.

The National Nuclear Security Administration operates the Test Site, 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, near Nellis Air Force Base's nearby test range.

Nellis officials said there would be significant impact to testing, training and tactics development.

Plans for the wind farm included enough electrical generating capacity to power a city of 85,000 people.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced the wind farm project in December 2000 as a "clean, green energy project."

Up to 200 construction jobs and 30 maintenance and operating positions were planned, Kathleen Carlson, manager of the Nevada Operations Office said.

"We had clearly hoped this project could come to fruition," Carlson said in a prepared statement Friday. "However, we must support the mission requirements of the Air Force to train, test and develop tactics in an unfettered environment."