Turbine Windmills On Aircraft Approach Path T.P. McCampbell Airport

By Daniel Guevarra

July 28, 2009, Sinton, Texas on Monday, San Patricio County Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Federal Aviation Administration to reject a proposed turbine windmill farm to be built within four miles of the T.P. McCampbell Airport.

The commissioners contend the windmill farm would adversely impact aircraft on approach to the airport. Commissioner Jim Price, a private pilot has led the fight against E.ON Climate & Renewables North America Inc. from building 19 of the 100 turbines to be built. Price claims the 19 turbine windmills fall within four miles of the T.P. McCampbell Airport, jeopardizing the approach to a runway and the windmills should not be any closer than 6 miles.  The project cost for construction of the windmills is $200 million.

E.ON Climate & Renewables North America Inc. is currently finalizing the layout plans for construction of the turbines and is seeking FAA permits due to it proximity to the airport. E.ON Climate & Renewables North America Inc. is working with a aviation consultant who has assured the company that the proposed placement of the turbines does not adversely affect the airport approach.

A company spokesman reported should the federal permits for the 19 be denied, it would have a severe impact on the expansion project. “It’s 19 turbines in a good wind area and having to move them would certainly impact our project,” he said. “It would probably impact the size of our investment. Instead of $200 million we would maybe spend $120 million.”

E.ON Climate & Renewables, N.A. is a renewable energy company headquartered in Chicago, IL, with development offices in Austin, TX and Denver, CO. Their business is the development, construction, ownership and operation of large scale wind farms and other renewable energy systems that generate clean, quiet, fuel and emissions free power from domestic resources.