BERTIE COUNTY — For residents along the Chowan River in Merry Hill weary of the relentless blinking red lights atop the Timbermill Wind turbines, there is finally measurable progress toward relief.

Timbermill Wind’s parent company, Apex Clean Energy, announced that it has received a Determination of No Hazard (DNH) from the Federal Aviation Administration for its proposed Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS). The determination clears a major federal hurdle and moves the company closer to installing a radar-based system that would significantly reduce nighttime light pollution from the turbines.

“Thank you for your patience as our team has worked with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense to review our proposal for an Aircraft Detection Lighting System (ADLS) at Timbermill Wind,” the company said in a statement. “We are pleased to share that we recently received our Determination of No Hazard (DNH) from the FAA for the system. In issuing this determination, the FAA has completed its review of our ADLS proposal and concluded that it will not pose a risk to aircraft. This is a huge step forward for our ability to install ADLS at Timbermill.”

The ADLS technology would replace the turbines’ current system of red obstruction lights that blink continuously from sunset to sunrise. Instead, the lights would activate only when aircraft approach the wind farm.

For homeowners in communities such as Colerain, Black Rock, Occano and Point Comfort, the change cannot come soon enough.

Each turbine’s red beacon blinks every two seconds — roughly 30 times per minute, or 1,800 times per hour. With dozens of turbines visible up and down the river, the cumulative effect has been described by residents as overwhelming.

About a year ago, around 60 upset residents gathered at the Occano Pool House in Bertie County for a meeting featuring Bobby Hanig, R-Currituck, and Ed Goodwin, R-Chowan, to voice their frustrations.

The pool house overlooks the Chowan River, and as darkness fell during the meeting, attendees could see the turbines’ orangish-red lights blinking across the water.

To many residents, what had once been tranquil Carolina sunsets had become something else entirely — likened by one observer to living next to the Griswold family’s famously over-the-top Christmas display in “Christmas Vacation.”

Among those who have closely followed the issue is Kate Wemple Jordan, a riverfront resident who said the latest announcement marks an important turning point — that’s her photo for this story.

“I’m encouraged to see real progress,” Jordan said. “For those of us along the river who see the lights every night, it’s felt like a long road. I understand aviation approvals take time, but the impact here has been real.”

Jordan urged neighbors to remain attentive as the process continues.

“As this moves forward, residents should continue asking for clear milestone updates and encouraging transparency around timelines,” she said. “Staying engaged helps keep momentum going. I’m hopeful we’re truly on the path to darker skies.”

The FAA’s Determination of No Hazard does not mean the radar-based lighting system is ready to flip on tomorrow, but it represents a critical milestone.

“So, what’s next?” the company explained. “Our team will continue to coordinate with local, state, and federal regulators to ensure we obtain all necessary approvals for an ADLS at Timbermill Wind. Doing so will likely require additional surveys and engineering designs.”

Apex officials have identified a location for the radar tower and selected a vendor for the ADLS. Design of the system is underway. Importantly, the company has determined that it likely will not need to rerun fiber to each turbine and instead can connect to existing cables, simplifying construction.

Once engineering and structural details are finalized, Apex will submit additional applications. The next major federal step is approval from the Federal Communications Commission, since the radar system operates on FCC-regulated spectrum.

“Once we have all that information compiled, the project will apply for a license to operate the radar from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is required because the system utilizes FCC-regulated spectrum,” the company said. “Simultaneously, we will apply for any required zoning approvals from Chowan County and any necessary approvals from state and federal agencies to ensure we are ready to begin construction as soon as possible.”

Other permits may involve Chowan County, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Company officials are determining whether a new permit will be required or whether the project can proceed under existing approvals.

Timing will be critical once FAA approval is finalized and the FCC application is submitted. The FCC license is time-limited, meaning the system must become operational within a set window after approval.

If all approvals are secured as anticipated, construction of the radar system is expected to take between six and nine months. Company representatives say that could put the ADLS online by summer 2026.

For residents who have spent countless evenings watching the steady pulse of red lights ripple across the river, that timeline offers cautious optimism.

In related news, the Carolinas Renewable Energy Development Assistance and Siting Hub (DASH) will host a public meeting from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the College of the Albemarle Culinary Arts Building. Residents of Chowan County and surrounding areas are invited to learn more about renewable energy developments in the region and share perspectives on large-scale projects.