No more blinking lights at night, Washington wind turbines to go dark

Those blinking red lights seen on wind turbines will have to go dark in Washington, unless there’s an airplane flying nearby.

That's because Gov. Jay Inslee just signed a bill that restricts the nighttime use of the lights for both new and old wind farms.

The flashing lights on wind turbines are supposed to keep aircraft safe and help to avoid collisions, but state Rep. April Connors (R-Kennewick) said they’re distracting for drivers on the ground.

“Over 100,000 people live within six miles of the turbines in numerous fast-growing residential communities, mostly inside city limits,” Kennewick resident Paul Krupin said at a public hearing earlier this year, in reference to a proposed Horse Heaven Hills renewable energy project.

As more wind farms are built, Rep. Connors said she worries about light pollution. She’s been pushing for wind farms to add detection radars, so the lights come on only when necessary. A bill was passed last session that does just that.

Gov. Inslee signed that bill into law Tuesday, but he vetoed certain provisions — one giving counties local control, another requiring the rules to start immediately.

These types of air detection radars are already used in Wyoming, New Hampshire, and North Dakota. Similar measures have been taken for wind farms in Germany.

Some renewable energy organizations lobbied against the measure, arguing that it is expensive to retrofit existing wind farms.

Existing sites have until 2028 to update their lights. For new wind projects, the rules take effect in July.