July 30, 2014
California

Local graphic artist creates images depicting massive wind farm scenario

By PETER DAY, Senior Reporter | The Leader | July 31, 2014 | www.lucernevalleyleader.com

LUCERNE VALLEY – What would the southern hills of Lucerne Valley and Apple Valley look like with more than 70 500-foot-tall windmill towers dotting the landscape?

Lucerne Valley resident Bill Lembright and graphic artist Debbie Schultz decided to find out.

First, Lembright went on a “tootle” to areas that would be affected if the North Peak Wind project becomes a reality. Lembright shot numerous photos of Coyote Flats, just north of Coxey Meadows, and to other areas whose vistas would be adversely impacted if the project is approved. Meanwhile, Sloane shot pictures from Apple Valley of the local hills, including the Juniper Highlands and Marianas areas that also would be impacted.

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“(This is what) it will look like if we citizens allow North Peak Wind to build their inefficient, government-blessed 500-foot wind tower monstrosity on the north slopes of our beautiful San Bernardino Mountains,” Lembright said.

Then Schultz, who has 25 years of experience with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, got to work.

Lembright describes the process:

“I drove to Horse Springs Campground above Grapevine Canyon, took the photos, used the USGS Butler Peak quadrangle map, and counted out 12.5 contour lines which have a 40’ spacing to equal the 500’ height of each tower,” he said. “Wherever terrain blocked the lower section of the tower, we shortened its length. What you see should be pretty close to the real height. I used the published plot plan which is on a topographical map to locate each tower and used a laser pointer on Debbie’s monitor to show her where each tower would be erected.”

The artistic renderings immediately had an impact, Lembright said.

“As soon as all the composite photos before and after taken from the desert and the mountains were published, public outcries increased,” Lembright said.

At the heart of that increased interest is a disturbing reality, according to Lembright.

“This 26-acre industrial wind farm is not at all suitable on the slopes of White Mountain, destroying the terrain, plant and animal habitats, the matchless views, destroying local property values, making it much more difficult to fight forest fires with air tankers, and slaughtering eagles, ravens, turkey buzzards, and bats on a massive scale,” he said.

The graphic design/photographic project by Lembright and Schultz will be a part of the agenda at the next Lucerne Valley Economic Development Association meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Lucerne Valley Senior Center.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/07/30/local-graphic-artist-creates-images-depicting-massive-wind-farm-scenario/