DES MOINES, Iowa (Feb. 18, 2026) – While MidAmerican Energy is known for keeping the lights on, the company is adding systems to keep lights off – that is, red nighttime aviation warning lights at its wind farms. MidAmerican plans to install aircraft detection lighting systems at all wind farms, subject to Federal Aviation Administration approval. When the system’s radar antenna detects aircraft in the designated airspace surrounding a wind farm, it warns pilots by activating flashing red lights mounted at the top of wind turbines. Otherwise, the lights stay off when there are no aircraft in the area. On average, the systems reduce warning light usage by more than 95%, preserving the darkness in these areas without compromising aviation safety. Commercial aircraft flying at normal cruising altitudes are usually too high to activate the system. “We began testing the technology with a pilot project at three wind farms a few years ago. The test results and responses from our partner communities have been very positive,” said Adam Jablonski, vice president, project development. “This technology benefits nearby communities by keeping nighttime skies dark while making sure aircraft flying near wind farms stay safe,” he added. The FAA evaluates each application for a warning light control system before approving its use. Without the system, federal regulations require that wind farms operate synchronized red flashing lights from sunset until sunrise. MidAmerican installed its first lighting control system in 2023, covering its Adair, Eclipse and Morning Light wind farms in Adair, Audubon, Cass and Guthrie counties. In December 2025, MidAmerican installed systems at its Lundgren wind farm in Webster County and Wellsburg wind farm in Grundy County. By the end of this year, MidAmerican plans to add aircraft detection technology to six wind farms:

• Arbor Hill – Adair County
• Diamond Trail – Iowa County
• North English – Poweshiek County
• Shenandoah Hills – Page and Fremont counties
• Vienna – Marshall and Tama counties
• Walnut – Pottawattamie County

In 2027, MidAmerican plans to add systems to its Highland and O’Brien wind farms in O’Brien County. When MidAmerican completes this year’s projects, the warning light control systems will dramatically reduce lighting at more than a quarter of MidAmerican’s wind sites. The company operates more than 3,500 turbines at 38 wind farms in 34 counties in Iowa.

 

About MidAmerican Energy Company
MidAmerican Energy, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, serves 829,000 electric customers in Iowa, Illinois and South Dakota, and 803,000 natural gas customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and South Dakota. Information about MidAmerican is available at MidAmericanEnergy.com and company social media channels.