County commissioners discuss wind farm ADLS system

County commissioners discuss wind farm ADLS system News Staff Tue, 07/16/2024 - 5:51 pm County commissioners review a letter sent to Stephens County Judge Michael Roach regarding the Aircraft Detection Lighting System Tower planned for the La Casa Wind Farm project. Photo/Mike Williams X By Mike Williams news@breckenridgeamerican.com As Stephens County continues to remain transparent on the La Casa Wind project, commissioners briefly discussed the planned Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS) during last week’s meeting. During the Monday, July 8 meeting, commissioners discussed correspondence received from SWCA Environmental Consultants regarding a cultural resources survey conducted by the consultant group. SWCA was contracted by La Casa Wind, LLC, for the survey of the planned wind farm for a direct and visual effects analysis for the ADLS tower planned as part of the wind farm. According to a June 17 letter to Stephens County Judge Michael Roach, the 120-foot tower will take up a 0.7-acre area on privately owned land. A 0.5-mile long and 50-foot-wide road will be constructed to access the tower. Additionally, SWCA worked with the Texas Historical Commission to conduct a field investigation of the area for potential effects on archaeological and historical resources. SWCA surveyed the area for the presence of cultural materials by a visual inspection of the ground surface and excavation of 25 shovel tests. “Ground surface visibility was low due to heavy vegetation, and shovel tests revealed shallow soils and were generally terminated due to bedrock,” the letter stated. “No historic or recontact cultural materials were observed within the direct effects (Area of Potential Effects).” The letter also stated that background research indicated that no historic properties were in the area. SWCA will submit its findings to the Texas Historical Commission and wrote that coordination is ongoing with the FCC and “interested Native American tribes.” Roach said county commissioners are working to keep the process of bringing in the wind farm as transparent as possible. The judge added that adding things to the public record makes it easier for community members to search for documents if they have questions. “One of the reasons why we will continue to put these things on the record is that it makes it a lot easier to search if there’s ever any questions,” Roach said. “If it’s in the public record, you can go to (the Stephens County Clerk’s) office and you can look at (it).” As part of the tax abatement agreement, La Casa will be required to install the ADLS tower which will provide radar surveillance of the air space surrounding and inside the wind farm. When incoming aircraft is detected a light system will activate before the aircraft reaches the farm perimeter. This is different from the flashing red lights typically seen on wind turbines. Roach said during a Monday, March 11 public hearing that there won’t be a lot of air traffic to set off the lighting system. “General aviation, which is what our local airport is, have very few night flights because you have to be rated a certain rating to be able to fly at night,” Roach said. “Not a lot of our aviation pilots can fly like that. Not saying that it doesn’t happen but DFW and Love Field are not going to set these things off. And that also conforms to some of the night skies initiatives.” In March, La Casa Wind, LLC. released the approved turbine locations for the planned wind farm project located south of Caddo along FM 717 and FM 207 in southwest Stephens County. County commissioners approved a tax abatement for the project following a public hearing March 11. The agreement will allow La Casa an annual PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) payment of at least $445,051 for the 10-year abatement period. That payment amount is considered to be the floor amount. The total amount owed each year will be the greater of 50% of all property taxes abated by the agreement or $445,051. News