The Department of Defense and the National Resources Defense Council released a new mapping database on Tuesday to help organizations developing renewable energy projects avoid military activities or environmentally sensitive areas.
The Renewable Energy And Defense Geospatial Database uses data from open sources to show locations that conflict with DOD bases, flight training routes, testing and training ranges and other defense activities, along with places that projects like wind turbines could interfere with radar systems.
“This is, for the first time, a really good, comprehensive look at all these different intersecting interests,” Frank DiGiovanni, director of training readiness and strategy in the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Readiness said. “With this tool, a developer can greatly minimize the chance that they will have some compatibility issues with DOD or from an environmental perspective.”
The database incorporates information from the Federal Aviation Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Park Service and other sources to give developers a planning picture not previously available.
