Wind farm developers in Kansas will have to mitigate the flashing red lights atop wind turbines under a new law signed Thursday by Gov. Laura Kelly.

Senate Bill 49 requires developers to install light mitigation technology on new and existing wind farms — but only if the Federal Aviation Administration approves. The FAA has approved aircraft detection lighting systems, which turn off the lights except for when aircraft are near, which is a rarity.

The law was proposed by the wind farm industry after the Senate Select Committee on Wind Turbine Lighting met in October. Supporters viewed it as an attempt by the industry to be good neighbors by responding to a legitimate concern.

It had the backing of people who live near wind farms, pilots, local government lobbyists, agriculture lobbyists, environmentalists and green energy advocates. The bill had overwhelming bipartisan support, passing the House 118-6 and the Senate 39-1.

More: Red lights blinking 24/7 atop wind turbines may stop with deal by Kansas lawmakers

Multiple wind farms with lights flashing a disjoined 3-second intervals interrupt the nighttime sky of Rep. Lisa Moser, R-Wheaton.

"Sitting on the deck on the north side of our home, I see three wind systems at night," she said. "Red lights blink in various cadences, each wind system having its own unique rhythm of lights."

Moser said Kansas has about about 4,000 turbines now with plans to add 6,000 more.

When will the blinking lots stop?

Starting July 1, 2023, developers, owners or operators of new wind farms with at least five turbines must apply to the FAA for approval to use a mitigation technology then complies with FAA regulations. If approved, they would have 24 months to install it.

Kansas Power Alliance lobbyist Kimberly Gencur Svaty told lawmakers in March that the state's two newest wind farms under construction have already applied for FAA approval, and at least one has received it.

Lawmakers delayed the retroactivity for the approximately 40 operational wind farms. Starting July 1, 2026, developers, owners or operators must apply to the FAA within six months of signing a new power offtake agreement.

More: Tired of the blinking lights on wind turbines? Kansas lawmakers have a plan for that.

That process could mean several years of delay before some wind farms are retrofitted, which was intended in part because of the economics of the law increasing demand on the limited supply of two companies with FAA-approved technology, Terma and DeTect.

Because tying the retrofitting to power offtake agreements could potentially mean a decade or more of waiting before some wind farms get light mitigation systems, the law includes a provision allowing counties to use bonds to help pay to install the technology earlier than the law would require.

Otherwise, the costs are the responsibility of the developer, owner or operator. System installation costs roughly $2 million with $100,000 in annual costs for a typical wind farm.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: New wind farm law in Kansas requires light mitigation technology