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Home My WebLink About2012/11/05 RESOLUTION OPPOSING NC WIND PROJECTS IN LOW-LEVEL MILITARY FLIGHT TRAINING ARESAHarnett COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA RESOLUTION OF THE HARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OPPOSING NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL WIND PROJECTS IN LOW -LEVEL MILITARY FLIGHT TRAINING AREAS WHEREAS, the Governor's Land Compatibility Task Force Report of May 2012 states: The United States military maintains combat readiness through intensive training on the ground and in the air. Incompatible land uses in areas used by the military limits the time that training ranges are available and the types of training conducted thereby negatively impacting military readiness by restricting the military's ability to 'train as they would fight. " In addition to bases and training ranges, areas of concern include off -base air and land corridors that connect military bases and airfields with remote training ranges and /or key air training areas and routes; and WHEREAS, a wind energy project is planned for coastal North Carolina, which would involve the construction of 49 wind turbines at a height of 505 feet above the ground; and WHEREAS, wind turbines create noise and strobe effects on neighboring properties and can be detrimental to the environmental integrity; wildlife, such as bald eagles and migrating tundra swans, in our area; agriculture; livestock and pets; and WHEREAS, the proposed wind energy project is directly in the most frequently used low -level (500 feet training required syllabus) training route used by Seymour Johnson Air Force Base F -1 5E aircrew en route to the Dare County Bombing Range. The training route is the only F -15E Strike Eagle training route in the nation, making Seymour Johnson Air Force Base home to the only two Strike Eagle aviator training programs in the county. No other area in the nation and no other military aircraft have this highly- critical mission capability: low- altitude training using unique terrain - following technique at only 500 feet of altitude. Frequent use of the Dare County Bombing Range and specific air training routes and operating areas over North Carolina is critical to accomplishing the mission of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. To continue to be useful for training purposes, these areas must allow realistic combat oriented flying and training, including low -level and nighttime operations; and www.harnettorg WHEREAS, the wind turbine structures and rotating blades have a negative effect on both the F- 15E's main radar and its terrain following radar system and both medium and low altitude flight levels, thereby compromising the training mission of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and other neighboring Department of Defense military installations. The turbines would be located in the final segment of the route leading directly into the Dare County Bombing Range; and WHEREAS, the training route consists of all airspace five miles north and five miles south of the route's centerline. The proposed turbines happen to cover the entire area north of the route's center line. The Air Force is unable to use the airspace south of the centerline because the area is designated Bird /Aircraft Strike Hazard (BHASH) zone where Air Force safety prevents any flights lower than 3,000 feet; and strong roots • new growth WHEREAS, Since 1957, the United States Marine Corps has lost approximately 85 percent flight training airspace in eastern North Carolina due to encroachment: and WHEREAS, the wind energy projects in general could pose a serious night time flight risk for both rotary-wing and fixed -wing air operations routinely conducted out of Simmons Army Airfield and Pope Army Airfield; and WHEREAS, any encroachment issues are problematic to low -level military flight training areas in eastern North Carolina and would pose serious future Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission issues concerning potential closure of military installations in North Carolina; and WHEREAS, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base plays a vital role in the economic stability of Wayne County and the surrounding region with approximately 5,200 active duty military and 1,100 reservist personnel. In fiscal year 2011, the total economic impact of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base was over $534 million with these dollars turning over four times before leaving the area; and WHEREAS, military spending is critical to the economy of not only eastern North Carolina, but to the entire State of North Carolina as evidenced by the following: • Department of Defense spending exceeded $4.07 billion in federal fiscal year 2011 — an increase of 13 percent and $471 million over procurement in the state in 2010 • Businesses in 87 of North Carolina's 100 counties performed defense - related prime related work, twelve of these received over $40 million in defense - related work. • The military has a $26 billion total annual impact on the state economy • More than 416,000 individuals, or eight percent of total state employment, or eight directly employed by the military or Coast Guard, or havejobs with the organizations and companies producing products and providing services that support the military in North Carolina WHEREAS, the Fort Bragg Regional Alliance Board of Directors does recognize that military installations are embedded within local communities, and that engagement with those communities is important for sustaining the military's ability to fulfill its mission; and WHEREAS, the Fort Bragg Regional Alliance Board of Directors does further recognize strong military and community leadership will be a requirement to overcome obstacles to military installations and their missions and to provide the impetus and resources to ensure successful collaborative processes that support installation mission readiness needs. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Fort Bragg Regional Alliance Board of Directors hereby: • Calls for implementation of stricter permitting and public input processes for wind and solar generation • Calls for full property appraisal assessment and potential effect of properties within or near wind energy project • Calls on the North Carolina General Assembly to pass state legislation blocking all encroachment or impairments to military training routes without state approval w .harnett.org • Calls on the North Carolina General Assembly to provide communities in North Carolina's military region additional guidance or assistance from state agencies or regional planning bodies to enable them to make infrastructure decisions and develop plans to ensure new growth is not at odds with sustaining the military mission in North Carolina. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Fort Bragg Regional Alliance Board of Directors called upon all counties and municipalities, elected official and leaders in North Carolina to oppose the construction of wind energy projects or such project within the military low -level flying routes or training areas in North Carolina. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Harnett County Board of Commissioners does hereby oppose the planned energy projects in eastern North Carolina, which we believe will harm the training missions of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and other Department of Defense users of the airspace near the planned projects and calls upon the North Carolina General Assembly and all of the citizens in North Carolina to oppose such energy projects in eastern North Carolina. Adopted this 5'h day of November, 2012 li,�i� s, S. Attest: 'rrrnnni•,. Mar et Regina reeler, Clerk to the Board www.hernen.org / ma - Timothy cNeill, Chairman Harnett County Board of Commissioners