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By Rebecca Person
Photo: Poster displayed at meeting by citizens concerned about impacts of wind energy in their rural communities.
July 1, 2019 (Campo) -- July 8th is the new deadline for public comments on the pending Campo Wind Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Comments are sought on a pending plan by the Campo tribe to build wind turbines in the Ribbonwood area of Boulevard and Campo to produce clean energy. Each new turbine would be 586 feet tall, nearly triple the height of existing turbine towers, which are less than 200 feet in height.
Issues with the existing, shorter towers could potentially be even worse if taller turbines are built. Residents with concerns about effects wind turbines have had or will have on their lives are urged to send their concerns via email to harold.hall@bia.gov by July 8.
A survey asking residents to detail their experiences with existing turbines near their homes can be submitted to tisdale.donna@gmail.com . Surveys will be bundled and submitted by the July 8 deadline.
Surveys can also be submitted to Harold Hall at the Bureau of Indian Affairs via email at harold.hall@bia.gov by July 8.
At Thursday evening’s meeting in Boulevard, longtime residents of Campo, Boulevard, Jacumba and Ocotillo revealed the impacts that existing wind projects have made on their quality of life.
These impacts included:
- Extreme dust conditions going unmitigated by wind turbine companies in spite of their pre-construction promises to alleviate dust
- Disturbing, constant noise ranging from ‘jet engine level’ to ‘distracting’
- Red lights flashing nightly with their inherent visual disturbances and effect on sleep patterns etc.
- Health issues some believe are tied to turbines such as vertigo, nausea, sleep deprivation, severe to mild headaches, memory and concentration issues, panic attacks, chest pressure, racing heart and in some instances heart attack, depression, mood swings and even cancer
- Dangers posed by actual occurrences locally of multi-ton blades falling off, turbine fires, electromagnetic frequency disturbances, and a wind turbine that collapsed
- Other effects such as TV and cell phone service disruption, road wear around neighbors’ properties, and noise, dust, and safety issues involving construction and repair vehicles and heavy equipment.
The wind project developer was invited to the meeting, but did not send a representative to provide their arguments for the project.
A 2019 Wind Turbine Neighbor Survey has been created for those residents experiencing effects of wind turbines on their lives including all of the above issues as well as lowered property values. To obtain a survey, click here.
Contact info for information on wind turbine impacts: www.windaction.org; www.wind-watch.org; https://waubrafoundation.org.au/
Local contacts for wind turbine concerns: tisdale.donna@gmail.com ; www.campowind.com (has project maps and documents) ; bronwyn.brown@sdcounty.ca.gov
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