May 21, 2008
Idaho
Idaho
Residents of Bingham County are worried that Wolverine Canyon may be come home to industrial wind mills.
The controversial sign reads, “The natural peace and beauty you find here will soon be lost forever by the installation of three hundred 490 foot tall windmills.”
This sign was erected by the VanderSloots on the Bingham County Road on the west entrance of Wolverine Canyon. According to the county’s zoning ordinance, it is a misdemeanor to place such a sign in a natural resources zone, even if it is on private property.
The sign is considered to be apart of a political agenda and is prohibited in the area.
Alan Jensen, (Head of the county zoning): “Unfortuneately the signs are not allowed in the road right of way. They become a safety hazard. We have to deal with that as a safety issue with road and bridge.”
The initial problem with the sign was the placement of it, now the problem has grown due to the full page ad placed in the paper Saturday.
The ad opposed the Goshen South wind energy project, which is the installation of 300 windmills.
It urged residents to oppose the project by sending emails to the county commissioners to sway their opinion in court of appeals next week.
The VanderSloot’s are worried about the canyon and want it to be preserved by not installing the industrial wind mills.
Frank VanderSloot, (President of Melaleuca) “It’s a really scary presedent to be setting and it’s happening in our own back yard. If we don’t do something it may be too late.”
Even though the VanderSloot’s intention was to preserve the land, the ad created controversy..
They said that the full page ad was misleading.
Wayne Brower, (County Commissioner): “What was written in the paper by Mr. VanderSloot and his wife, he really did invite the public illegally to make comment after a public hearing was closed.”
The county commissioners could not comment any further.
The decision regarding the land in Wolverine canyon is still undecided. The County of commissioners will meet next week to finalize a solution.
By Jennifer McGraw
20 May 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/05/21/wolverine-canyon-controversy/