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8/7/2019 BP SDEIS App I Licensed Microwave Report-Comsearch Cape Vincent
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Environmental Resources Management Southwest, Inc.206 East 9th Street, Suite 1700
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 459-4700
Licensed Microwave Report - ComsearchAppendix I
February 2011
Project No. 0092352
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Wind Power GeoPlanner
Licensed Microwave Report
Cape Vincent
Prepared on Behalf ofEnvironmental
Resources Management
May 6, 2010
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Environmental Resources ManagementWind Power GeoPlanner
Licensed Microwave ReportCape Vincent
Table of Contents
1. Introduction - 1 -
2. Summary of Results - 2 -
3. Tables and Figures - 4 -
4. Contact Us - 8 -
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1. Introduction
The use of wind energy, one of the oldest forms of harnessing a natural energy source, is nowone of the worlds fastest growing alternative energy sources. The United States is committed tothe use of wind energy, and over the next several years billions of dollars will be spent on windpower projects. However, as new wind turbine generators are installed around the country, it isimportant to note that they may pose an interference threat to existing microwave systems andbroadcast stations licensed to operate in the United States.
Wind turbines can interfere with microwave paths by physically blocking the line-of-sightbetween two microwave transmitters. Additionally, wind turbines have the potential to causeblockage and reflections (ghosting) to television reception. Blockage is caused by the physicalpresence of the turbines between the television station and the reception points. Ghosting iscaused by multipath interference that occurs when a broadcast signal reflects off of a large
reflective objectin this case a wind turbineand arrives at a television receiver delayed intime from the signal that arrives via direct path.
Many states and other jurisdictions recognize the need for regulations addressing interferenceto radio signal transmissions from the wind turbine installations. Specifically, local planningauthorities typically require project developers to ensure wind turbines will not causeinterference. In some cases they require developers to notify the telecommunication operatorsin the area of the proposed wind turbine installation. Other factors prompting developers toundertake proactive investigation into potential interference include the need to prevent legaland regulatory problems and the desire to promote goodwill within the communitya goodneighbor approach.
Comsearch has developed and maintains comprehensive technical databases containinginformation on licensed microwave networks throughout the United States. Microwave bandsthat may be affected by the installation of wind turbine facilities operate over a wide frequencyrange (900 MHz 23 GHz). These systems are the telecommunication backbone of the country,providing long-distance and local telephone service, backhaul for cellular and personalcommunication service, data interconnects for mainframe computers and the Internet, networkcontrols for utilities and railroads, and various video services.
This report focuses on the potential impact of wind turbines on licensed non-federal governmentmicrowave systems. Comsearch provides additional wind energy services, a description ofwhich is available upon request.
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2. Summary of Results
An overall summary of results appears below.
Project Information
Name: Cape Vincent
County: Jefferson
State: New York
Total Microwave
Paths
Paths with
ObstructionsTotal Turbines
Turbine
Obstructions
3 N/A N/A N/A
MethodologyOur obstruction analysis was performed using Comsearchs proprietary microwave database,which contains all non-government licensed paths from 0.9 - 23 GHz1. First, we determined allmicrowave paths that intersect the area of interest2. The area of interest was defined by theclient and encompasses the planned turbine locations. Next, for each microwave path thatintersected the project area, we calculated a Worst Case Fresnel Zone (WCFZ). The mid-point
of a full microwave path is the location where the widest (or worst case) Fresnel zone occurs.Fresnel zones were calculated for each path using the following formula.
#
21
21
17.3dd
dd
F
nRn
GHz
Where,Rn = Fresnel Zone radius at a specific point in the microwave path, metersn = Fresnel Zone number, 1FGHz = Frequency of microwave system, GHz
d1 = Distance from antenna 1 to a specific point in the microwave path, kilometersd2 = Distance from antenna 2 to a specific point in the microwave path, kilometers
For worst case Fresnel zone calculations, d1 = d2
1
Please note that this analysis does not include unlicensed microwave paths or federal government paths that arenot registered with the FCC.
2We use FCC-licensed coordinates to determine which paths intersect the area of interest. It is possible that as-built
coordinates may differ slightly from those on the FCC license.
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Comsearch Proprietary - 3 - May 6, 2010
The calculated WCFZ radius, giving the linear path an area or swath, buffers each microwavepath in the project area. See the Tables and Figures section for a summary of paths and WCFZ
distances. In general, this is the two-dimensional area where the planned wind turbines shouldbe avoided, if possible. A depiction of the WCFZ overlaid on topographic basemaps can befound in the Tables and Figures section, and is also included on the enclosed CD3.
Discussion of Potential ObstructionsFor this project, turbine locations were not provided; thus we could not determine if any potentialobstructions exist between the planned wind turbines and the incumbent microwave paths. Ifthe latitude and longitude values for turbine locations are provided, Comsearch can identifywhere a potential conflict might exist.
3The ESRI shapefiles contained on the enclosed CD are in NAD 83 UTM Zone 18 projected coordinate system.
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3.TablesandFigures
Figure1:AreaofInterest
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Figure2:MicrowavePathsthatIntersecttheAreaofInterest
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Figure3:Micro
wavePathswithWCFZBuffers
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ID
SiteName1
SiteName2
Callsign1
Callsign2
Band
Licens
ee
WCFZ
(m)
1
WEALTHAAVE
CA
PEVINCEN
WLQ373
RXONLY
950MHz
BORD
ERINTERNATIONALBROADCASTIN
G
52.96
2
BRODIERD
INDIANHILL
WME879
RXONLY
950MHz
MARS
HILLBROADCASTINGCO
43.09
3
CAPEVINCEN
ADAMS
WPOS292
WMR378
Upper6GHz
NewC
ingularWirelessPCS,LLC(NY)
20.84
Table1:MicrowaveP
athsthatIntersecttheAreaofInterest
GP_dict_matrix_des
cription.xlsfordetailedfielddescriptions)
(Seeenclosedm
w_geopl.xlsformoreinformationand
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4. Contact Us
For questions or information regarding the Licensed Microwave Report, contact:
Contact person: Denise FinneyTitle: Account ManagerCompany: ComsearchAddress: 19700 Janelia Farm Blvd., Ashburn, VA 20147Telephone: 703-726-5650Fax: 703-726-5595Email: [email protected] site: www.comsearch.com
Comsearch Proprietary - 8 - May 6, 2010