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!
By: Phillip and Suky Crandall, Old West Ranch residents
21 September 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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