Flashing red lights atop wind turbines may soon blink less often under a bill that's been sent to the governor.
If signed by Governor Laura Kelly, the bill would require the installation of light-mitigating technology on new and existing wind farms. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the aircraft detection lighting system technology would turn off the lights except for when aircraft are near. Republican Representative Lisa Moser, of Wheaton, said aircraft aren’t near a wind farm about 97% of the time the lights are blinking. Moser says Kansas has about 4,000 turbines now with plans to add 6,000 more. It could take years for the new systems to be installed, with new developments required to comply first.