Timbermill Wind, the Chowan County wind energy project visible from across the Chowan River, has formally applied to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to install an Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS) — a technology designed to eliminate the steady flashing red lights that have frustrated many Bertie County residents since the turbines began operating last summer.

The application, submitted last month, is the first official step in what could be a year-long process to bring relief to neighbors who say the constant blinking has disrupted the rural nighttime landscape.

“We want to thank you for your patience as our team did the diligence necessary to design the system to ensure both aviation safety as well as provide relief from nighttime lighting,” Timbermill officials said in a recent update.

Merry Hill resident Kate Wemple Jordan noted that its about time. “Timbermill finally applied to turn off those constant blinking red lights with an ADLS. Dark skies can’t come soon enough! Let’s hope it doesn’t take another year to make it happen.”

What ADLS Would Do

The ADLS system relies on radar technology to detect approaching aircraft. Red lights, currently required by the FAA to blink every two seconds from dusk to dawn, would remain off under normal conditions. They would activate only when an aircraft enters the area, shutting off again once it passes.

The system would be installed across all 45 turbines at the project, which stand nearly 600 feet tall. Timbermill executives estimate the retrofit will cost $2 million and take about 12–15 months to complete: six months for permitting and nine months for construction, including the installation of a 65-foot radar tower.

If approvals move smoothly, the system could be operational by summer 2026.

Regulatory Reviews Ahead

The FAA review typically takes between 45 and 90 days but can stretch longer if further study is required. At the same time, the Department of Defense must review the project because of its proximity to military flight routes and training airspace.

Other approvals may also be needed from the Federal Communications Commission, state environmental regulators, and the Pentagon before the project can move forward.

“It can be quicker if they just see it right in the beginning and say this is good,” said Jimmy Merrick, director of development for Apex Clean Energy, Timbermill’s parent company, at a community gathering about the lights this past spring. “But typically, if there’s military activity in the area, then it goes to the DOD clearinghouse first before the FAA issues a decision.”

Community Frustration

Residents along the river in communities such as Colerain, Black Rock, Occano, and Point Comfort have been vocal about their frustration with the turbines’ blinking lights. At a community meeting in April at the Occano Pool House, more than 40 people pressed Timbermill leaders for answers about what one neighbor called “those damn blinking lights.”

By one measure, the 45 turbines collectively flash about 1,800 times per hour. When multiplied across the project, the red strobes create what some describe as an orange glow reflecting off the river.

The company has since committed to paying for the ADLS retrofit out of its own operating budget.

“It’s not free,” Merrick said. “It’s a very expensive system to come in after the fact and install it, but the funding has been allocated, the contractor has been selected, and the technology is available to make this happen.”

Support for the Plan

Community leaders say they are encouraged by Timbermill’s willingness to address the issue directly.

“A huge thank you to Apex Clean Energy and Timbermill Wind for coming to Bertie County to talk with us,” said Kate Wemple Jordan, who has spoken publicly about the light problem. “It was great to hear firsthand about the process and what to expect. As long as they keep things transparent, we’re happy to let them handle the details. We can’t wait to celebrate when those blinking red lights finally disappear.”

Why the System Wasn’t Included Initially

When asked why the project did not install ADLS technology from the start, Merrick said the option was not widely available when Timbermill was first proposed nearly a decade ago. Early studies suggested that the topography and forestation on the Chowan County side of the river would limit light visibility.

But when the turbines came online in 2024, the reality was different. Bertie County’s higher elevation gave residents a clear view across the river, and the lights reflected off the water, amplifying their presence.

“The technology has evolved in recent years,” Merrick explained. “It wasn’t something that seemed necessary at the time, but once the lights came on and the complaints came in, we knew we needed to act.”

What Comes Next

In addition to FAA and DOD approval, Timbermill must provide regulators with detailed information about turbine locations, potential airspace impacts, environmental assessments, and documentation of consultations with military officials.

If all permits are granted, Timbermill will move ahead with site work, including pouring a 50-by-50-foot concrete pad for the radar tower and connecting the system to the wind farm’s fiber grid.

Despite the bureaucratic hurdles, company leaders say they are committed to seeing the project through.

For residents who have spent the past year watching the night sky punctuated by relentless red flashes, that progress cannot come soon enough.