Bill > HR2295

This bill establishes a Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Program (Program) within the National Weather Service to address challenges in weather radar detection and prediction caused by physical obstructions like wind turbines and buildings. The Program, to be conducted by the Director of the National Weather Service in coordination with other agencies, will partner with industry, academia, and government entities to identify and test technologies that can mitigate radar interference. Specific research areas include developing signal processing algorithms, short-term forecasting techniques, and exploring dual polarization characteristics to overcome beam blockage (partially or fully blocked radar signals) and ghost echoes (radar data errors caused by nearby obstructions). The bill prioritizes several technology-based solutions, such as multifunction phased array radar, using commercial radar data, utilizing private meteorological tower data, and providing wind farm boundary information. The Program is set to run until September 30, 2030, or one year after the submission of a final recommendation. The Director is required to submit annual reports to Congress evaluating the progress and effectiveness of the Program, with a final recommendation due within five years to determine whether additional research is needed. This legislation aims to improve weather radar capabilities by developing innovative solutions to overcome technical limitations caused by physical obstructions.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2295/all-info