The US Air Force has recently threatened to halt construction on what could be the world’s largest wind project, over concerns that the 845-megawatt wind farm’s turbines would wreak havoc on a nearby military radar base’s ability to detect images and thus leave its defensive purpose unfulfilled.

Wind farms use massive propeller blade turbines to harness the power of the wind in a certain area by converting kinetic energy (from spinning in this case) into electrical energy. The turbines are connected with a medium voltage power collection system, whose output current is then increased in voltage by a substation’s transformer for integration into an existing high voltage transmission system.

While these farms are great for the environment, their siting has traditionally caused some major headaches. Wind turbines are massive, and generally require large amounts of space to operate properly. Add to this the fact that wind farms usually require a considerable number of turbines to produce any significant amount of energy, and the problem becomes clear.

Siting commonly becomes an issue when the proposed areas are visually appealing or environmentally sensitive, or require radical infrastructure additions in generally pristine areas. Turbines must also be placed in non-residential areas to avoid noise and other problems.

Now, with the US Army’s concerns, the list of potential controversies becomes even longer. Radars work on the Doppler principle of imaging and distancing. Rotating wind turbine blades could, in theory, create a Doppler shift with radar energy reflecting off of them. The Department of Defense is so concerned that it has already moved to reject a required Federal Aviation Administration permit – an act which the wind farm’s developers say may effectively kill the $2 billion project. The Obama administration is currently working double-time to both resolve the Pentagon’s concerns while also ensuring that the Oregon project stays online.

Where is the line between the environment and national defense drawn? While finding new sources of clean energy is a priority in today’s oil-driven world, it can also be said that protecting the country and its airspace is equally important. The government must find a way to resolve this issue quickly and equitably, since it could serve as a precedent for future cases.

View a previously written post by Mouli Cohen about the Environment.