LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME


[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]

Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

Get weekly updates
RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Stripe

Donate via Paypal

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Wind power plan worries Heron Bay homeowners 

Credit:  By Tom Abate | San Leandro Patch | sanleandro.patch.com 21 June 2012 ~~

A San Leandro company that rebuilds wind power systems wants to erect a 104-foot turbine near San Lorenzo Creek. Neighbors what more time to study the plan.

San Leandro’s dreams of becoming a tech and clean energy hub have come into conflict with the desire of Heron Bay residents to maintain the tranquility of their neighborhood.

And City Hall is stuck in the middle.

In dispute is a plan to erect a 104-foot tall wind power turbine on an industrial site near the point where San Lorenzo Creek empties into the Bay.

The site is home to Halus Power Systems, a small company that, two years ago, bought an empty warehouse in San Leandro. There it now employs 11 people who rebuild used wind turbines and then install the furbished equipment in locations that are off the grid.

Halus wants to build a demonstration turbine on his 5-acre property to show prospective customers, promote green energy and generate enough power to run his shop.

In recent months the company has prepared studies to explain the project and discuss any noise, effects on birds or other environmental consequences arising from the operation of the turbine.

In May, city planning staff issued a “mitigated negative declaration” which is governmentese for, “Okay, go ahead.”

The declaration set a deadline for public comment that was set to expire at 4 pm June 21st, which is today.

But at the City Council meeting Monday night, members of the Heron Bay Homeowners Association – many of whom live within sight of the proposed turbine – said they’d only just heard about the project.

More than half a dozen speakers asked the city to extend the review period for another 120 days.

“It’s just due diligence,” said Benny Hill, president of the Heron Bay Homeowners Association and an undeclared candidate for the city council seat currently held by Joyce Starosciak (the declared candidates are Chris Crow and Darlene Daevu).

Hill said few homeowners were notified and those who got the notifications did not have enough time to study the project.

“It’s not only for the Homeowners’ Association but for the environment and the community,” Hill said of the requested 4-month delay.

Halus president Louis Rigaud said a 120 day delay would mean the project could not start before the rainy season. And since the work could not be done in the wet weather, it would be tantamount to halting the project until next spring.

Rigaud met with members of the Homeowners’ Association Wednesday night in the hopes of assuaging their concerns.

“I guess we could have done more (to contact neighbors) earlier, but we certainly followed the rules,” Rigaud told Patch.

He said the rules call for notifying any neighbor with 300 feet of the project. There were only six but Halus notified 25.

Rigaud noted that the Heron Bay development is bisected by 120-foot tall high-tension power lines which are closer to more homes, as well as talle,r than his turbine would be.

The project must still go to the Board of Zoning Adjustments on June 28, which could extend the time for public comment. Any Board decision could also be appealed to the City Council.

Meanwhile, the Chamber of Commerce held a reception at the Halus site Wednesday afternoon.

It was planned in advance of the controversy and was supposed to celebrate the project getting the green light.

Now supporters may have to put the cork back in the champagne bottle as tiny the wind power company tries to win its neighbors’ support.

(Other documents on file in connection with the project include: the technical report on environmental effects.)

Source:  By Tom Abate | San Leandro Patch | sanleandro.patch.com 21 June 2012

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Contributions
   Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)
Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI M TG TS G Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook Wind Watch on Linked In

Wind Watch on Mastodon Wind Watch on Truth Social

Wind Watch on Gab Wind Watch on Bluesky