New Kansas law will reduce blinking lights on wind turbines

TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas residents who stay close to wind farms may ultimately get a break from the almost fixed blinking of the purple lights on wind generators beneath a invoice signed Thursday by Gov. Laura Kelly.

Beginning July 1, builders of latest initiatives will likely be required to use to the Federal Aviation Administration for mild mitigation expertise. The expertise turns off the lights besides when plane are close to — a uncommon incidence in rural Kansas.

The builders would have two years to put in the expertise.

Starting July 1, 2026, present developments must apply to the FAA inside six months of signing a brand new energy offtake settlement, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported. As a result of that would take a number of years, the legislation permits counties to make use of bonds to assist pay for the costly expertise earlier.

System set up prices about $2 million, with $100,000 in annual prices for a typical wind farm.

Rep. Lisa Moser, a Republican from Wheaton, who has wind farms close to her residence, has stated she and hundreds of Kansans see purple blinking lights each three seconds, 24 hours a day.

Kansas has about about 4,000 generators now, with plans so as to add one other 6,000.

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