Legislation that pits jobs at North Carolina’s military bases against wind energy gets its first airing at the state legislature.

The Senate’s Commerce Committee heard impassioned arguments Wednesday about a proposal to ban commercial power windmills that can stand as tall as a football field from regions with the state’s best wind-power potential.

The legislation could permanently ban big power turbines from the Virginia border to south of the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base and as much as about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the coast.

The move’s main backer says it’s needed to keep military training flight routes clear.

Former Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John Castellaw said the Pentagon already checks that energy projects don’t interfere with military operations.

– Associated Press

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