No more wind turbines
No more wind turbines
Regarding the environmental impact report, CBM 19-08, Alta-Oak Creek Mojave Project-Zone changes for wind farm development as it relates to the Old West Ranch portion, we would like to voice our extreme opposition.
We have owned property on Old West Ranch, East side, near Wild Horse Road for almost 30 years—before any wind projects were ever even begun.
As far as we are concerned, we have experienced no positive results from the wind industry’s involvement in our area. All we have seen—and indeed felt—are detrimental effects from noise, dust and the changing view of pristine golden hills which throbs with vibrational and visual pollution with even the dogs and coyotes howling whenever the wind blows in the “right” direction.
We depend upon solar and battery energy and satellite communications as no public utilities are available to or accessible by us. They affect us only in a negative way and we could receive only more headaches from massive additional development and experience none of any possible benefits to be derived from the proposed development so close to us—only negative ramifications.
We definitely do not look forward to more wind industry, dust and the accompanying whine of the turbine blades coming at us from the East even stronger.
No mitigation was even in the proposal. At the least, the section on or adjacent to Old West Ranch should be removed from development consideration and zone change.
Since the limited current wind machines have grown from picturesque to megalithic as the wind energy projects multiplied, we have experienced the death of our pinon pine forest caused, according to environmental experts, both drought and development pollution. When the dust blows, our newly acquired asthma and allergies bloom as we now have become disabled senior citizens.
There have been numerous fires which have threatened the forest around us which originated from wind properties.
We are in the path of migratory birds and animals including deer, ravens, turkey vultures, bears, mountain lions and coyotes to name a few which will be affected by the huge, whirling blades. Where will they go?
How about the fragile wild flowers such as protected poppies and wild gourds which seem to thrive in this area? But even now, they are quietly disappearing with the recent batch of wind machine development.
We have limited access to our home, under the current best of circumstances, from Wild Horse Road, along which the beauty of actual black wild horses can be seen during certain times of the year as they look for sustenance in the wild grasses found there.
This access road becomes impossible and washes out during inclement weather. How will additional traffic on these mountain roads be managed? This development on Old West Ranch has no publically maintained roads.
We have listed just a few of our concerns. When the east wind blows, the wind machines whine and those of the animals who live here suffer in extreme pain. We too have noise-caused headaches. The animals can only howl in agony.
So, do not bring the proposed development here in Old West Ranch. Do not further damage this historic, fragile and endangered forest area. Please do not completely and irrevocably destroy it!
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Comments
"SILENCE IS CONSENT"
My Sand Canyon home is across the road from the group of windmills located on the north side of the 58 fwy. The winds kicked in for a few weeks recently. The level of noise pollution generated by all of the windmills was aweful. In fact I could hear the windmills, south of the freeway. It sounded like a freeway outdoors. The sounds of metal rubbing and mechanical parts was overwhelming at times.There is another serious issue. In the 5 years we have lived in our natural rural environment we have never seen deer, bears, flocks of birds, wild turkeys or much of anything else. Ravens, sparrows, a few ground squirls, gophers, trantulas, frogs, lizards and 1 owl are all that are left. My immediate ecosystem is completely trashed. A neighbor recalled there used to be many more birds especially scrub jays. Another neighbor recalls the army of frogs that used to migrate through the canyon.
I believe birds populations are severely impacted by windmills. Constant noise is stressful and disrupts adequate sleep cycles that animals require, just like people. Tehachapi is a foggy place. Migrating birds fly at night. They cannot see windmills in the fog. They get killed in large numbers.
This leads to the issue at hand in Old West Ranch. I took the drive and spoke with the sister. She gave us a tour of where windmills would go up. This is a vibrant forest with old pines and junipers. It supports habitat with little interference. I saw my first 2 flocks of turkey vultures. The 18 land owners have been solicited by wind farm representatives to sell their properties to them or enter into 95 year leases. They want to get easements in order to access areas for construction. The area is also a significant watershed. Google Earth shows this.
The response from the wind energies companies is "screw you", we'll do what we want. They are forcing people out one way or another. If successful, they will own water rights to the springs, which are numerous. This can deplete the local water supply.
Oak Creek Power and Terra-Gen Power Oak Creek Energy Alta Oak Creek Mojave Project.
Oak Creek Energy Systems Inc, a Marubeni Company
4-2, Ohtemachi 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8088, Japan Tel: [81] (3) 3282-2111
Terra-Gen Power NEW YORK, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Terra-Gen Power, LLC, (Terra-Gen), awholly-owned affiliate of ArcLight Capital Partners (ArcLight)- Boston
ArcLight Capital Partners is a leading energy investment Firm. Formed in 2001 by co-founders Daniel R. Revers and Robb E. Turner, the Firm has demonstrated the ability to invest broadly and profitably across the entire energy industry, while protecting against downside risks. The Firm's superior investment performance is the result of the Firm’s conservative investment approach, deep asset-level knowledge, and market experience.ArcLight has a proven track record of delivering superior returns across the energy industry value chain. ArcLight manages over $6.8 billion in four funds.http://www.arclightcapital.com/
Who is Kern Wind Energy? There is a trade association for wind companies. Linda Johnsonhttp://www.energy.ca.gov/windguidelines/documents/public_comments/Kern_Wind_Energy_Association_2007-08-22.PDF
My personal opinion is that our yes-men, the Kern Board of Supervisors, have sold our county to investors. Look out. Our county is about to be raped. Anyone living in our community appreciates the serenity of seeing stars at night and have a connectedness to the environment. Please stand up and don't allow these companies to put these antiquated windmills everywhere. None of us will benefit from this. To the contrary it will bring more people, crime, air pollution, light pollution, noise pollution like in Bakersfield and Los Angeles, the 2 most polluted cities in the whole US.
A final note: Are any of you aware that Ft. Irwin has relocated the endangered desert turtles 2 times to expand their base. They were removed and relocated the first time during hibrination. When they woke up they were eaten by coyotes and ravens. As it prepares to expand training operations at Ft. Irwin in the Mojave Desert, the U.S. Army is again proposing to move more than 1,100 threatened California desert tortoises -- an unprecedented number of an endangered species that has not fared well during previous relocations. Read on at: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2009/08/desert-tortoise-endangered-species-army-training-.html
Thank you for listening.