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Yahoo!Thanks to a unanimous February 10 vote of support from the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, a large-scale wind farm will likely be up and running in the foothills southwest of Lompoc sometime next year. The first of its kind to gain approval in the county, Acciona Energy's 65-turbine project, spread out over nearly 3,000 acres of ag land in and around Miguelito Canyon, is expected to harness enough wind to power 50,000 homes a year.
Less than two weeks after the California State Lands Commission shot down an offshore oil drilling deal slated for the same coastal neighborhood as the Acciona project, 2nd District Supervisor Janet Wolf testified to the wind farm's ecological upsides. "It is what we need to do, what we have to do, and what we must do," she said of the project.
The Lompoc Wind Farm was on the supervisors' plate this Tuesday after neighbors of the project site, George and Cheryl Bedford, and the California Department of Fish and Game filed appeals of its unanimous approval at the County Planning Commission last fall. The latter objected to the undeniable impact that the wind turbines, with their 135-foot blades approaching 200 miles per hour at the tip, would have on bird and bat populations. The former was more concerned about the desecration of viewsheds and noise pollution.
Before this week's hearing, Fish and Game brokered a deal with Acciona and withdrew its challenge to the Planning Commission's vote before that portion of the appeal was even heard. All it took was a pledge from Acciona to make either a one-time payment of $450,000 to the California Wildlife Foundation for the specific purpose of helping preserve and protect threatened bird species via a land conservation easement or to donate such an easement with an endowment to keep it staffed. (It should be noted that prior to this deal, as part of the Environmental Impact Report, Acciona is also required to monitor bird and bat deaths throughout the life of the project and move or shut down specific turbines if problems persist.)
The Bedfords, however, were not so easily placated. Their 425-acre parcel being surrounded on three sides by the project, the Bedfords not only took classic "not in my backyard" exception to the prospect of these new neighbors-400 feet tall when measured from base to blade tip-but they also charged that the project's Environmental Impact Report (EIR) inadequately addressed bird death projections and noise impacts.
Leasing land from seven area property owners, Acciona is also offering them compensation for infrastructure erected on their land. Acciona spokesperson Harley McDonald explained that the project will only use 2 percent of the land they intend to lease, thus allowing the families to remain in the agriculture business with the bonus of a little extra dough to help make ends meet. Furthermore, according to data set forth in the EIR, the noise impact of the turbines on residences is expected to be no more than 50 decibels-roughly the equivalent of a quiet house-despite readings found at the base of the towers nearly three times that amount. Pointing to the fact that the Acciona plan has yet to completely flesh out where specifically the towers will be sited, George Bedford made his case Tuesday that it is impossible to say that residences won't be adversely affected. "The bottom line is, no one in this room knows where these things are going yet, so how can we know the impacts?" he warned.
While the supes' denial of the appeal was the last major hurdle for Acciona to clear, the project, as it begins its phased construction, must still endure additional review from the Board of Architectural Review and county staff before it starts harvesting the wind to make sure that the many significant conforming requirements of the project outlined in the EIR, such as post-construction decibel studies and required buffer zones between specific turbine sites and nesting habitat of birds, are met. Acciona expects to start construction by the end of 2009.
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Oh, beautiful for spacious skies
Invaders came today.
To wreck our sacred rural scenes
It makes us want to say:
America, defend our land!
Our water, soil and air
Our rural beauty is at stake
Does anybody care?
Hilldweller (anonymous profile)
February 12, 2009 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you have never been up Miguelito, imagine a quiet canyon with oak woodlands, a year round creek and abundant wildlife. It is a gem the residents of Lompoc have been fortunate to have and best experienced on a bike or on foot.
I wonder if the Independent would be giving thanks if this project were in Santa Barbara.... Or, might they have the "classic 'not in my backyard' response".
Thank you to the Bedford's. While we cannot say what the exact impacts will be, we can be sure Miguelito Canyon will never be the same.
It is a good day for renewables, but a bad day for the residents of Lompoc.
SouthSideResident (anonymous profile)
February 12, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The people complaining about this subject must be very misinformed. It is a sad day when a company that is trying to preserve our world is being chased away.
I had a chance to see this companies wind turbines in service at their Glacier wind park in Montana, and uploaded some videos to youtube. They are virtually silent, when approaching them I could not hear them until I was within 100 ft. The day that I was there the winds were relatively calm, around 15mph. Even when standing underneath my camera would not pick up the sound of the generators over the wind, but they were producing near maximum power. I would guess that they were about as loud as a newer car passing at 15-20mph from a similar distance.
The impact on birds/bats sounds to be exaggerated as well. The stories sound like they kill them daily, but I saw no carcasses anywhere on the wind park. I asked the maintenance technicians, they had also heard rumors of this, but have never seen a bird or bat dead from being struck. This makes sense because the turbines are generally out in open areas, and are avoided by the animals.
To all those against these parks, consider your options. Pollute our water, air, and land with coal, petroleum, and radiation, or look at some windmills.
krustindumm (anonymous profile)
February 12, 2009 at 3:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Remember that your field trip came after the windmills were in place. There is a cost to all "green" technologies, some quite significant.
I have no objection to looking at a windmill but would rather see one in already populated areas. This wind farm will negatively impact Miguelito Canyon as it is a large development, yes a development, in an otherwise undeveloped area. With the windmills come transmission lines and structures. There will be road building/widening and increased traffic.
This new infrastructure is a legitimate concern for nearby residents.
The canyon lies under the flight path for Vandenberg AFB. I imagine the serenity of a dark starry night at the top of the canyon replaced by one with red blinking lights think of a group of skyscrapers.
New England environmentalists have been deeply divided over a proposed Cape Cod offshore project (Just ask John Kerry). Blue Ridge Mountains, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Scotland::::. Look at the reaction to any large farm.
It is exciting to see renewables getting attention again. Just don't believe they will ever be a win win. I am also pretty sure Acciona is in the US primarily to make money.
SouthSideResident (anonymous profile)
February 13, 2009 at 9:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear SouthSideResident,
As someone that travels North America and installs WTG's I have seen your opinion expressed all over. You have the attitude that we need to convert to "Green Energy" yet you hold on to the "NIMBY" Not In My Backyard syndrome. It's Great! I Love Them! I just don't want to see them.
The idea that we should put the units in developed areas would be okay if the wind speed data would support it. It would always be better to go into an area without a need for the infrastructure to be built up. As to the visual impact I can provide you tons of pictures from all over North America to show you the beauty of the WTG's
Will their be some increased traffic on the road yes. Their will be an increase during the construction phase of the project. The roads at some point will have the turn radius improved to facilitate the specialized delivery trucks for the WTG components. After the site is finished the roads are usually returned to the same configuration that they were in before the project. Same goes for the impact at the sight during construction. Ant excess fill from where the tower foundation is dug will be moved and hauled off or blended into the sight.
As to your concerns over the flight path for VAFB that will not end up being an issue. As for the FAA lights. It will just add some more light to a ridgeline that has light on it.
Looking at your comments on the Cape Cod project. These off shore units were going to be so far out that the diameter of the Rotor was going to be as large as a quarter on the horizon. Again we have an area with great wind and people that don't want to see the future of energy generation.
As for the ranching on the land they will lose very little of their land to the turbine and the access roads. They will also benefit from the income that it will provide them.
As to your comment that "I am also pretty sure Acciona is in the US primarily to make money". Answer me this. What major company is doing business to break even? Money is what makes a company have the ability to grow and hire new people. Money is what allows a company to invest in the R&D to make better and more Green Friendly technology. Acciona is not just involved in the Wind segment. They operate and install Solar and Hydro and Bio Mass. Acciona is a forward thinking company when it comes to the energy field. Is it a crime if they make a profit on it? We need to stop looking at a company and seeing them as evil if they are making a profit.
Going back to the County meeting I agree to what one of the speakers had said. I wish I knew his name. He was commenting on the fact that the legacy for energy that our parents have left us in SB County is our offshore Oil Rigs. Well when you look at the WTG's you can see the legacy that you will leave for your children or grandchildren and they can see that we were making sure that they are going to have a cleaner and greener world.
BengalsFan
BengalsFan (anonymous profile)
February 14, 2009 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear Bengals Fan,
Thank you for not making comments like.... " It is a sad day when a company that is trying to preserve our world is being chased away." Acciona must make money. That was my point.
Or better yet..... "...but I saw no carcasses anywhere on the wind park. I asked the maintenance technicians, they had also heard rumors of this, but have never seen a bird or bat dead from being struck." Windmills kill birds. So do buildings.
There have been steps taken to mitigate the impacts for which I am thankful. But they are still impacts. As an example, the few clusters of existing lights will now be joined by a spread of 65 new light points, albiet only those necessary to comply with the FAA. Not the same.
One of the Cape Cod farm's leading foes has been none other than Edward Kennedy. He has fought that project for something like 7 years. A NIMBY I could never match.
At home, we have been far more accepting of our fate. Once the area has stabilized after construction, we will be left with a developed wind farm that you feel will be beautiful.
We just disagree here. Your WTGs will never begin to match the beauty of the canyon in its current state.
Most Americans understand the need to diversify our energy sources. You need to let the locals impacted by your projects lament their loss.
SouthSideResident (anonymous profile)
February 14, 2009 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear SoutSideResident,
Good day to you and others reading this. I just wanted to say that I am local (Santa Maria). I know that might not be as local to the project as your residence. I look at this as a place that I will be employed at in the near future and long term so I am hoping for this project to go thru quickly. I have been in the wind industry for two years now. I have traveled as far north as Alberta and Ontario Canada to the south end of Texas and all the way to Maine and parts in between. We have seen our supporters in the communities and those that are staunchly opposed to us.
As for the Cape Cod project you could not have hit the head of the nail any better on the hurdle for that project. If he drives his sail boat like he drove his Lincoln the turbines would be in trouble.
I know that some people find the turbines an eye sore. I think that once they are up you will see that they add to the beauty. As a resident of the coast for 32 years I want to see the area protected also. I just see the abundant resource that we have in our wind that our entire coastline is known for. We can utilize the area but at the same time be respectful to our environment.
As for the impacts I have met with and talked to the walkers that go around turbines at some sights and have not met one yet that have found a strike. Now am I saying that it does not happen, no. It is bound to happen whether by turbine or building or vehicle on the road.
Well I look forward to getting a chance to talk in the future.
Thank you for the comments,
BengalsFan
BengalsFan (anonymous profile)
February 16, 2009 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It looks like lompoc will finally leap into the 21st century. It is good to see Santa Barbara County showing good initiative on the Green Energy front. I am a former Lompoc resident, LHS Class of 94, and am in my 12th year in the Wind Energy business. The concern over bird deaths caused by wind turbines is legit, otherwise people would not be bringing it up so much. That being said, the Tehachapi area where I work sees approximately 30 bird fatalities a year on average. Likely this is due to the large number of older wind mills in the area. The older machines turn the blades at a much higher speed. Birds often have much less time to react in these cases. The new machines that Acciona will install in Lompoc are so much bigger that the blade speed is reduced. Also, the newer machines are all installed on tube towers instead of steel lattice towers. This is another way to reduce bird deaths. I applaud the Central Coast for resisting the social pressures of non-conformity. This is a good industry we desperately need these days. Especially in California.
Windman99 (anonymous profile)
March 21, 2009 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)