June 25, 2011
California

Plans for big windmill project in Tehachapi are abandoned

www.kget.com 24 June 2011

A group of Tehachapi residents is celebrating what they see as a victory over a large windmill project that had been proposed for their mountain community.

Terra-Gen Power has decided to abandon plans to build windmills near the homes of Tehachapi residents.

“This is the best view in the country as far as I’m concerned. We sit out here and sit out at the table and have a glass of wine every night and watch the sunset.”

Toni Bice moved to Tehachapi for its natural beauty, an untouched green mountain. For months, Bice was worried about his view.

“The windmill, first of all, they’re dangerous. They can catch fire, they can fly apart,” he said.

Bice is relieved knowing his view to the southwest will remain unchanged. “We’ve got millions of acres of desert. Putting them so close to people homes is insane.”

Terra-Gen Power tried to get more than 7,000 acres of land re-zoned for the Pahnamid Windmill Development Project, a project the project the company is no longer pursuing.

“If this project had gone through, they would have bulldozed the Tehachapi mountains, an area larger that 640 football fields,” said ranch owner Bob Moran.

Bob Moran says the windmills would have been next to his backyard. “This helps us maintain our quality of life and property value for all citizens.”

Terra-Gen issued a statement saying…”After consulting with Supervisor Scrivner, the County Planning Department and relevant agencies, Terra-Gen is withdrawing the re-zoning application for Pahnamid.”

Bob Moran worked hard to inform neighbors about the risk. It’s a victory for Moran, Tehachapi residents and the city’s mayor.

“I’m not against wind energy. I’m against this project. It’s very important to have the scenery that we have,” said Tehachapi Mayor Ed Grimes.

Another windmill project by a different company is still being proposed in the eastern part of Tehachapi.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/06/25/plans-for-big-windmill-project-in-tehachapi-are-abandoned/