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Bill would require 30‑day notice for meteorological towers near military aviation training routes
Summary
Senators passed House Bill 28 98 to require notice to TxDOT, county judges and federally operated radar or military installations within 50 nautical miles before erecting meteorological evaluation towers used in wind‑farm planning; sponsors cited Sheppard Air Force Base route closures as an example.
Senator Hagenbuch, State Senator, said House Bill 28 98 would require notice to the Texas Department of Transportation, applicable county judges and any federally owned or operated radar or military installation within 50 nautical miles when a meteorological evaluation tower is planned.
Hagenbuch argued that the Air Force and other training bases operate low‑flying training routes that rely on unencumbered radar and that wind turbines and measurement towers can "encroach on training routes and cause radar disruption," potentially jeopardizing pilot safety and training missions. He cited Sheppard Air Force Base as an example and said it "had to close 3 of 17 training routes in 02/2018 because of such encroachment by wind turbines." (Transcript used "Shepherd"; official spelling corrected to Sheppard Air Force Base.)
Under the bill, a 30‑day advance notice of intent to build a meteorological evaluation tower would enable military personnel and developers to coordinate and avoid conflicts; the sponsor said the requirement would make current practice into law.
Hagenbuch moved suspension of the regular order; the Senate agreed without objection, the bill passed third reading and the Senate later approved final passage by recorded vote (31 ayes, no nays).
Key details clarified on the floor: notice must be provided to TxDOT, county judges and each federally owned or operated radar or military installation within a 50‑nautical‑mile radius of the tower and include a 30‑day advance notice period. Supporters said the change would formalize coordination and help avoid closures of air‑training routes.
