Shedding Light on Wind: Why Communities Need Support in Navigating Wind Energy Development
Co-Author: Justin Lindemann, Senior Policy Analyst, North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center
Across the Carolinas, wind energy is gaining traction in our rural communities. These projects provide a steady and reliable income for farmers, as well as a new source of tax revenue that supports essential services, including local schools, infrastructure, and emergency services. Project siting—where the turbines are placed and what they look like—matters deeply to the people who live nearby. One of the most immediate and persistent concerns raised by rural communities is lighting.
Per the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), turbines exceeding a certain height must be equipped with nighttime safety lights. These lights serve an important safety function by alerting low-flying aircraft to the presence of tall structures, such as telecommunication towers, skyscrapers, and wind turbines, among others. For nearby residents, however, they can be an unsightly disturbance, especially in rural areas that value starry skies and limited light pollution.
The Timbermill Wind Project Example
Video of the Timbermill Wind project's current lighting system.
In rural northeastern North Carolina, residents have voiced meaningful concern over the continuous blinking lights at Apex Clean Energy’s Timbermill Wind project. The project came online in Chowan County in late 2024 and is capable of producing up to 189 MW of clean, homegrown energy. Located between the Chowan River and Edenton Historic District, the turbines are visible across the water to residents in Bertie County. Bertie County community members voiced concerns about the visual impacts, particularly the glare the lights cast over the river and the potential distress the blinking pattern may cause for individuals with mental health challenges and sensory sensitivities. In response, residents reached out to the project’s developer and their elected officials to request more transparency in the permitting process and stronger, enforceable standards for lighting mitigation for both existing and future projects. .
To Apex’s credit, the company has worked hard to build trusted relationships with the community by hiring local operations staff and project liaisons based in the region who provide a consistent and reliable channel of communication. As a result, concerns were elevated quickly, and by early 2025, the company announced plans to invest $2 million to retrofit each f the 45 turbines with an Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS). ADLS uses radar to detect incoming aircrafts and activates the lights only when necessary. This approach can reduce lighting time by up to 98%, thereby preserving dark skies while maintaining compliance with FAA rules and regulations.
Still, the process to implement ADLS is far from simple. It involves selecting a qualified vendor, working with landowners, obtaining permits, and coordinating with multiple federal agencies. Even with a strong incentive to implement the new lighting system, it is not expected to be operational until as early as summer 2026.
A Closer Look at the Policy
Across the U.S., concerns like those raised at Timbermill are influencing state-level policies. To date, 11 states—primarily in the Midwest—have adopted laws requiring the use of ADLS for wind energy development. These laws vary in scope but generally establish when ADLS must be used, cases that qualify for exemption, and how installation costs are distributed.
As of April 2025, seven states, including North Carolina, are actively considering legislation requiring ADLS. Each is proposing its own set of statewide requirements and provisions in response to local concerns. In North Carolina, Senate Bill 513 includes a new transparency measure requiring the Department of Environmental Quality to notify neighboring counties about upcoming public hearings on wind projects—a direct response to concerns raised by residents in Bertie County.
As an increasing number of states move to require ADLS, the wind energy industry is adapting to strike a balance between aviation safety and community concerns about light pollution. In the Carolinas, establishing clear, proactive requirements and standards will be key to reducing uncertainty and building public trust around prospective wind projects.
Where Can Residents Turn to Receive Help and Resources?
The lighting complaints at Timbermill Wind are just one example of the friction that can arise around utility-scale energy development. Communities often don’t know what, who, or when to ask questions until these projects are already well underway. While wind energy infrastructure may be new to some regions, the need for early, accessible information and trusted technical assistance is critical. That’s where the Carolinas Development Assistance and Siting Hub (C-DASH) program comes in.
Led by the NC Clean Energy Technology Center at North Carolina State University – in partnership with the Southeastern Wind Coalition (SEWC), the Center for Energy Education, the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, and the South Carolina State Energy Office – the C-DASH program aims to provide education and technical assistance on utility-scale wind and solar energy siting and permitting issues to communities and local governments across the Carolinas. The program offers open access to an online technical assistance hub, featuring resources on clean energy and land-use, as well as a map of existing wind projects in the country and upcoming program events. If you have questions, would like to request a speaker, or are seeking technical assistance, you can fill out the program’s online form. Support includes education on project development and technologies, ordinance review and guidance, as well as other tailored assistance.
To stay up to date on all things C-DASH, sign up for the program newsletter by clicking here. You can also visit SEWC’s land-based wind page for additional information and resources.
About the Authors
Steph Grasmick, Program Associate, Southeastern Wind Coalition
Steph is a Program Associate at the Southeastern Wind Coalition, the only nonprofit in the Southeast dedicated specifically to wind energy. Her work is centered around educating the general public and policymakers on the economics of both land-based and offshore wind energy across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Contact: stephg@sewind.org
Justin Lindemann, Senior Policy Analyst, North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center
Justin Lindemann is a Senior Policy Analyst at the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center and is a key contributor to the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) and the DSIRE Insight report series. He monitors legislative and regulatory developments across parts of the Northeast and Southeast, with a focus on solar and distributed generation, energy storage and grid modernization, electric vehicles, and power sector decarbonization. Justin helps coordinate and manage the Carolinas Development Assistance and Siting Hub (C-DASH) and provides policy analysis for the U.S. Department of Energy's Southeast On-Site Technical Assistance Partnership. Justin holds a Master’s in International Studies from North Carolina State University, with a focus on climate policy analysis and global climate resilience.
Contact: jplindem@ncsu.edu
