WIND FARMS AND THE WSR-88D
The NEXRAD Radar (officially designated Weather Surveillance Radar-1988
Doppler (WSR-88D)), is the key tool National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) forecasters use to track weather and make life
and property protecting weather warning decisions. NEXRAD data also
support operations of the FAA National Airspace System, Department
of Defense, other government agencies, private industry, and the public. The
NEXRAD uses an 8.8 m diameter parabolic antenna that produces a 0.95 degree
beam width and is programmed to automatically scan the atmosphere (called
Volume Coverage Patterns) by rotating 360 degrees through up to 14 elevation
angles from 0.5 to 19.5 degrees. The NEXRAD transmits at a wavelength of
about 10 cm (3 GHz) and at a peak power of about 750 kW. The radar has a 460 km
range for Reflectivity detection and up to a 300 km range for Doppler velocity
and spectrum width detection.
For wind farm developers, early consultation with the NEXRAD Program, via
the Radar Operations Center (ROC) is the key to minimizing operational conflicts
with NEXRAD network and weather warning program.
The NTIA acts as a one-stop clearinghouse for developers to reach many
interested federal agencies, including the ROC, so please submit your proposal
directly to the NTIA. They will forward your proposal to us and we will perform a
case-by-case analysis at no cost to determine the potential for impacts to the nearby
NEXRAD. If it appears that there could be significant impacts, we would like to work
with you on mitigation options to reduce the impacts. While the NEXRAD Program has
learned about many proposed wind farms via the NTIA, this represents a subset of the
wind farms being planned. It also appears the timing of these notifications is after
the wind energy developers have already invested considerable time and money in planning
wind farm projects. Advance information on new planned projects, or expansions, would
enable impact analysis and siting consultation earlier in the project lifecycle, potentially
avoiding costly project changes. A preliminary analysis can be performed on wind farm area
coordinates (polygons) and then reanalyzed when individual turbines locations are known.
Please note that the Federal Government cannot approve,
disapprove, or recommend any action on part of the developer
on private land. We can only provide impacts and
suggest mitigation options for developers to consider. We urge
wind farm developers to take advantage of this consultation early
in the planning process to arrive at mutually beneficial siting decisions.
Finally, we are sensitive to the proprietary and competitive
nature of development plans and all information is treated
as "For Official Use Only, Pre-Decisional, and Not Releasable to the Public".
You can contact us at the Radar Operations Center: Wind.Energy.Matters@noaa.gov
To Submit Projects for Evaluation to the Department of Commerce's National Information Telecommunications Administration (NTIA) Contact:
Ms. Felicia Walker
U.S Department of Commerce
NTIA rm 6725
1401 Constitution Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20230
Work Phone: (202) 482-4589
Email: fwalker@ntia.gov
