H.R. 649House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Protection of Military Airfields from Wind Turbine Encroachment Act

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 11:51 AM UTC

The Protection of Military Airfields from Wind Turbine Encroachment Act modifies the Internal Revenue Code to block federal tax credits for new wind turbines that are sited near certain military installations. By disallowing the renewable electricity production credit and the small‑wind energy credit for turbines within 50 miles of active airfields, airbases, or DoD radar and navigation sites, the bill aims to protect military operations from potential interference. The rule affects wind‑energy developers and owners who would otherwise receive these tax incentives.

Key Provisions

Changes the tax credit rules so that any new wind turbine placed in service within 50 miles of an active military airfield, airbase, or Department of Defense radar or navigation site cannot claim the renewable electricity production credit or the energy credit.
Amends the definition of “qualified small wind energy property” to also exclude turbines within that 50‑mile radius, preventing them from qualifying for the small‑wind tax credit.
These changes apply only to wind turbines that begin service after the law is enacted.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

January 24, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 24, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

January 24, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 24, 2017

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 649

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 24, 2017

Mr. Collins of New York (for himself, Mr. Farenthold, and Mr. Jones) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ensure that new wind turbines located near certain military installations are ineligible for the renewable electricity production credit and the energy credit.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protection of Military Airfields from Wind Turbine Encroachment Act.

New wind turbines located near certain military installations

(a)

In general

Paragraph (1) of section 45(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking Such term and all that follows through the period and inserting the following:

Such term shall not include—

(A)

any facility with respect to which any qualified small wind energy property expenditure (as defined in subsection (d)(4) of section 25D) is taken into account in determining the credit under such section, or

(B)

any facility which is originally placed in service after the date of the enactment of the Protection of Military Airfields from Wind Turbine Encroachment Act and is located within a 50-mile radius of—

(i)

an airfield or airbase under the jurisdiction of a military department which is in active use, or

(ii)

an air traffic control radar site, weather radar site, or aircraft navigation aid which is—

(I)

owned or operated by the Department of Defense, and

(II)

a permanent land-based structure at a fixed location.

(b)

Qualified small wind energy property

Paragraph (4) of section 48(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—

(1)

by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D), and

(2)

by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:

(C)

Exception

The term qualified small wind energy property shall not include any property which is originally placed in service after the date of the enactment of the Protection of Military Airfields from Wind Turbine Encroachment Act and is located within a 50-mile radius of any property described in clause (i) or (ii) of section 45(d)(1)(B).

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to property placed in service after the date of the enactment of this Act.