August 10, 2010
Nevada

Wailing over wind farm

By JOHN G. EDWARDS, LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, Aug. 10, 2010, lvrj.com

A grumbling crowd of 60 Searchlight residents made it clear Monday that most of them don’t want a $400 million wind farm built on nearby ridges and slopes, but a county official predicted the Clark County Commission would approve the project.

Commissioner Steve Sisolak, who represents the small historic mining community on the county panel, called the meeting at the town community center to listen to comments from residents before the commission votes on special use permits for the project Aug. 18.

County planning staff recommended approval, and Sisolak said the commission usually accepts staff recommendations on land uses.

Duke Energy needs the county permits and approval from the Bureau of Land Management for use of 9,000 acres, before it can erect 87 wind turbines that reach 428 feet from their base to the highest point of their blades.

[…]

While some renewable-energy advocates backed the wind power project, most attendees objected for reasons ranging from noise, flashing lights that mark the towers at night, mars on their scenic view, effects on residential real estate values and possible interference with ambulance helicopters.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/08/10/wailing-over-wind-farm/