The Department of Transportation under then-Secretary Pete Buttigieg brushed aside safety concerns to approve dozens of windmill projects near America’s highways and railroads — despite acknowledging potential hazards, The Post has learned.
At least 33 safety recommendations to place wind turbines well clear of the critical infrastructure were overruled in 2023 and 2024, according to a current department official, permitting the projects to be built close enough to possibly interfere with vital radio communications.
In March 2023, for example, the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications Information Administration informed an Illinois wind farm seeking regulatory approval that “the turbine locations that fall within the one-to-three-mile boundary of these rails may be problematic for train communications in this area and present an undue risk.”
The Heritage Prairie Wind Energy Project had been under review for 45 days before DOT flagged the problem.
Nine months later, however, the Commerce Department issued another letter withdrawing the Transportation Department’s previous concerns without explanation.
“DOT continues to review and analyze the potential for harmful interference that might result from turbines placed within close proximity of rail, highway, and other transportation infrastructure, and reserves the right to make setback recommendations, or any other recommendation deemed necessary by the Department, on future projects,” the January 2024 letter stated.
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Author: Dillon B
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