Iowa Legislation Looks to Stop Blinking Lights on Wind Turbines

A House subcommittee advanced a bill this week that would make a significant change to those constant, blinking red lights found on wind turbines all over the state.

We've all been there: driving the state highways at night and see the blinking lights of wind turbines far off in the distance. Personally, they don't bother me whatsoever, but I know folks with astigmatism can find themselves disoriented. However, the utility of those wind turbine lights is important: they're for pilots to gauge how high they're flying and, of course, so they don't strike one of those structures.

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Could the Blinking Lights on Wind Turbines Disappear Soon?:

House File 2081 would require new wind farms to be constructed with "sensor-based lights," with existing turbines to be retrofitted with said lights by 2028. The lights would activate when an aircraft is in the vicinity before turning off when it's out of range, so to speak.

The bill is the product of Rep. Dean Fisher (R-Montour), who claimed landowners in his district have been vocalizing their frustrations about the lights following recent construction of a conversion facility built in Tama County, per The Des Moines Register:

Constituents who used to have just a nice sunset view out their window now are looking at a row of flashing red lights all night long. Very annoying, very disturbing - Rep. Dean Fisher, per The Des Moines Register

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How the Sensor-Based Lights Would Work:

The bill would force new and existing wind turbines in Iowa to be equipped with aircraft detection lighting systems (ADLS). They are described by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as "obstruction lights that turn on when a primary radar detects approaching aircraft." The lights remain on until the aircraft passes through the area. If there is a sensor failure, the lights will also turn on.

The Des Moines Register found that, per Chaz Allen, a lobbyist representing the Iowa Utility Association, said that utilities are already in the process of putting these lights in place. Around 27% of wind turbines in the state have ADLS in place. While "undecided" on the bill itself, Allen states that the 2028 deadline might not be feasible given the approval necessary from the FAA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Not to mention, there's also the cost of implementing these lights all at once versus overtime. Rep. Adam Zabner (D-Iowa City) did not support the measure, for he claims the move would increase utility cost for Iowans.

Read more about the possibility of Iowa wind turbines being fitted with aircraft detection lighting systems on The Des Moines Register's website.