Chief of Naval Operations (N4) VADM William R. Burke, USN (now retired) issued this important memo in 2011 seeking information on the impacts of wind farm development around the Naval Air Station Kingsville (NASK) in Texas. The memo also seeks information on the feasibility and cost of mitigating for the impacts, including moving the NASK missions to other locations. The full memo is provided below. The memo and response can be downloaded from the document links on this page.
Chief of Naval Operations (N4) VADM William R. Burke, USN (now retired) issued this important memo in 2011 seeking information on the impacts of wind farm development around the Naval Air Station Kingsville (NASK) in Texas. The memo also seeks information on the feasibility and cost of mitigating for the impacts, including moving the NASK missions to other locations. The full memo is provided below. The memo and response can be downloaded from the document links on this page.
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
2000 NAVY PENTAGON
WASHINGTON, DC 20350-2000
iN REPLY REFER TO: 5090 Ser N4/
From: Chief of Naval Operations (N4)
To: Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet
Commander, Naval Installations Command
Subj: WIND TURBINE ENCROACHMENT AT NAVAL AIR STATION KINGSVILLE, TEXAS
- This letter requests your assistance in evaluating and justifying the risk to readiness presented by proposed construction of additional wind turbines in the vicinity of NAS Kingsville..
- Per the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a DoD objection to a renewable energy project cannot be registered unless SECDEF or his designee determines that the project would result in an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States. This determination must be supported by a report to Congress explaining the readiness impacts that led to the determination; discussion of mitigation options considered; and an explanation of why the mitigation measures were not feasible or did not resolve the conflict.
- I request that PACFLT, in coordination with CNAF and CNATRA, assess the impacts of wind turbine development near NAS Kingsville on Navy readiness and advise whether such impacts, if unmitigated, would present an unacceptable risk to National Security. I also request that PACFLT and CNIC identify and assess the feasibility and cost of all possible mitigation options. such as technological improvements. training procedure modifications. siting the wind turbines so as to minimize mission impacts, relocating some or all of NAS Kingsville’s mission to other installations, and purchasing easements to prevent incompatibility development. Please provide the readiness and mitigation assessment by 31 July 2011.
- My point of contact is RADM Philip Cullom, at (703) 695-5029.
W. R. BURKE
