COUNTY WORKSHOP ON WIND ENERGY ORDINANCE SET FOR MAY 11: PLANNERS TO HEAR EXPERT SPEAKERS

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version Share this

By Miriam Raftery

“Our rural East County communities are facing industrial transformation with the potential for hundreds of towering and churning industrial wind turbines surrounding, and looming over, virtually all of our residential neighborhoods and along most of our ruggedly beautiful ridgelines.” – Donna Tisdale, Protect Our Communities Foundation

View a map of industrial-scale renewable energy projects proposed for East County, including many at formerly protected Cleveland National Forest and Bureau of Land Management public lands.

May 9, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—The County's Wind Energy Ordinance & Plan Amendment Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) will be reviewed at a special San Diego County Planning Commission Workshop at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 11 at 5201 Ruffin Rd., Suite B. The workshop is a response to Commissioners' request for more information after evidence presented at an April 13 hearing indicated that wind turbines can result in negative health impacts from audible and sub audible noise, vibrations, and dirty electricity/stray voltage.

The wind industry denies any health issues—but some medical experts and residents living near turbines in other areas contend the health impacts are real.

Barb Ashbee, Coordinator for Victims of Wind, based in Ontario Canada, and Samuel Milham, MD, MPH, author of Dirty Electricity, will be among speakers sharing first-hand knowledge at the Workshop. Milham has taken measurements documenting dirty energy levels 1,000 times normal in buildings near one local wind facility.

The ordinance proposes changes to the newly adopted General Plan Update, Boulevard Community Plan and Zoning Ordinance to facilitate the placement of hundreds of industrial scale turbines in close proximity to homes, businesses, and sensitive resources in the San Diego's scenic fire-prone and biologically sensitive backcountry--with Wind Resource Areas designations proposed from the Mexican border to the Riverside county line.

Additionally, the Planning Commission hearing on the Major Use Permit for Iberdrola's 15,000 acre Tule is set for 9 a.m. on May 18. The County could choose to either rely on the CPUC/BLM environmental document to meet their CEQA requirements for its discretionary action under CEQA in consideration of issuing a Major Use Permit (Major Impact Service Utility), as portions of this project are within the County's jurisdiction, or amend, supplement, and/or prepare additional documentation to meet its environmental compliance needs.

Two residents’ groups, The Protect Our Communities Foundation and Backcountry Against Dumps, recently put San Diego County and the California Public Utilities Commission on notice that placing large wind turbine projects without proper regard for the public health and safety and financial impacts could make the taxpayers liable for harm to residents and the surrounding environment.

Globally renowned wind turbine noise expert, Richard James previously submitted extensive comments on the Tule Wind project recommending a redesign or denial of the project.

The companies building these industrial wind turbine projects are receiving billions in taxpayer-funded benefits for these not-so-green projects, which also lead to rate increases to cover the expensive and intermittent energy, new backup peaker plants, and related transmission infrastructure upgrades, opponents contend.

Iberdrola insists the turbines do not pose hazards. Harley McDonald of Iberdrola Renewables states that “wind power is safe for humans, and provides vast health benefits through reduction of toxic emissions.”

Both sides cite studies that they claim bolster their case.

Opponents of industrial wind facilities in San Diego’s East County contend that not only are such projects eyesores and potential health risks that would destroy public lands, but that they are not necessary to meet renewable energy goals.

For example, PG&E now pays less for power from moderate-sized rooftop solar projects than it does for wind energy, according to the California Public Utilities Commission.

“Point of use generation is a better, less expensive and less destructive solution,” Tisdale concludes.

 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

Comments

A gun to their heads

Iberdrola and Pattern Energy would never admit any problems or hazards from their projects. These types of denials have been going on for decades.  They would still continue to stand their ground even if there were no more eagles, condors or Least Bell's Viero left in California. The only way to get the truth from them would be to send their CEOs to Guantanamo Bay or to put a gun to their heads. This will never happen and that is why I have to expose their tactics and bogus studies. Everyone needs to pay attention to what is happening in Washington because this Industry is now asking to kill even more eagles with their projects. This includes Bald eagles. They want to give themselves 30 year killing permits that are transferable. Even though the heads of the USFWS already know they are going to give the wind industry these additional liberties to kill eagles, they are taking comments until July 12.  I think the public should comment. They should also not hold back one bit or worry that they might offend this corrupt agency.                                                                                      http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/BaldAndGoldenEagleManagement.htm

Tule Wind Farm

I would also like to know if the meeting tomorrow at the Planning Commission is open to the public - ?   It would be an interesting opportunity to observe what is being presented.

McCain Valley, along with the surrounding WILDerness Areas, and their WILDlife, are PUBLIC treasures!   Cottonwood Campground in McCain Valley is very remote and has been our family's favorite destination for decades because of it's close proximity to explore the WILDerness.   The BLM recently re-evaluated the area and part of it was determined as having WILDerness characteristics.   It will not be a WILD area any more if 450-foot tall wind turbines and their infrastructure fragment it and also create EYESORES.   Who knows what the impacts will be on the WILDlife in these areas, not to mention the RESIDENTS?   It should be left JUST THE WAY IT IS!  

 

          

 

Yes Craig

It's public, sorry for not making that clear.