May 7, 2013
California

Proposed wind turbine farm in McCain Valley met with opposition

John Carroll | ABC 10 News | 05/07/2013 | www.10news.com

SAN DIEGO – A group of residents from the Boulevard and Jacumba communities in the far East County say they do not want any more wind turbine farms built around them.

Boulevard Planning Group chair Donna Tisdale did not mince words.

“It’s immoral, unethical and in my opinion, unlawful,” she said.

Tisdale and the others were in front of the County Administration Building on Monday calling attention to a vote that the county supervisors will cast on Wednesday.

The proposed Tule Wind Project – consisting of almost 100 wind turbines on 725 acres in the McCain Valley – has already gotten permits to operate.

On Wednesday, the board must approve a noise waiver for the project to move forward.

“Inside the house you’re never rested,” said Dave Elliott, who lives near a wind turbine farm. “You’re always bothered from this noise … the thumping of the turbines as they go round and round.”

Along with the noise, Elliot said a whole host of other negative health effects come from being near the big windmills.

“Dizziness, loss of balance … you have headaches,” he said. “You have ringing in your ears.”

“I wanted to spend the rest of my life out there. Now, I don’t know what to do,” said Jim Pelley, who bought a home in Ocotillo nine years ago. Then, a wind turbine farm was built near his house. Now, he says his dream of retiring in a peaceful place is gone.

“We know what’s happening and they just ignore us and say well, this is for the public good,” Tisdale said.”Well, we’re the public too. We deserve equal protection under the law, but we’re not getting it.”

Tisdale said she hopes Wednesday’s vote will change that.

Late Monday afternoon, Iberdrola Renewables, the company behind the project released a statement to 10News, which read in part: “Iberdrola Renewables takes these concerns very seriously, which is why we have studied them carefully, transparently, and with considerable public input for four years.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/05/07/proposed-wind-turbine-farm-in-mccain-valley-met-with-opposition/