Wind Power News: California
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Terra-Gen’s controversial Campo Wind project approved by Dept. of Interior over strong objections of impacted tribal members
Against strong opposition, including many tribal members, the Department of Interior just approved the Record of Decision (ROD) for Terra-Gen’s controversial Campo Wind project with 60-586 ft tall 4.2 megawatt (MW) turbines on Campo Tribal lands in rural San Diego County. These turbines are taller than the tallest skyscraper in San Diego and twice as powerful as existing Kumeyaay Wind and Tule Wind turbines that already generate nuisance level adverse impacts for neighbors! To add insult to injury, the ROD . . . Complete story »
Santa Barbara County supervisors deny appeal of Lompoc-area wind project design
An appeal of the design for a wind energy project in the hills south of Lompoc was denied Tuesday by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, which previously denied an appeal of the land use permit granted by the County Planning Commission. The project calls for erecting 29 wind turbine generators up to 492 feet tall on the ridgetops south of Lompoc, constructing an operation and maintenance building and an electrical substation at the site, a switch yard near . . . Complete story »
Board of Supervisors denies latest Lompoc wind farm appeal
Neighbors of a proposed commercial wind farm lost another appeal in a bid to stop the project planned for more than a decade for a ridge southwest of Lompoc. On Tuesday, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors denied an appeal filed by George and Cheryl Bedford and approved several matters surrounding the Strauss Wind Energy Project. BayWa r.e. Wind LLC has proposed creating a $150 million clean-energy project with 29 wind turbine generators, as tall as 492 feet, on . . . Complete story »
Campo tribe’s former Chair La Chappa and 64 members petition for special meeting over allegedly “corrupt actions” of leadership under Chairman Cuero
After Campo tribal chair Harry Paul Cuero Jr. reportedly refused to recognize a motion or allow a vote on a petition to overturn approval of the new Campo Wind project, as ECM reported, a new petition (posted below this article) has reportedly been presented to Cuero which seeks to remove him and potentially other executive committee members from office. The petition, which former Chair Monique La Chappa says has been signed by 64 tribal general counsel members, calls for a . . . Complete story »
California approves goal to double green energy
Calling for a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, California regulators on Thursday approved rules meant to shutter gas-fired power plants and force electrical companies to further embrace climate-friendly sources like solar and wind. The California Public Utilities Commission cast the plan as a critical component of the state’s ambitious quest to source 100% of its electricity from zero-carbon resources by 2045 and left open the potential for a stricter mandate in the near future. If the mark . . . Complete story »
US military squeezes wind energy development off California’s Central Coast
Developers, state officials and federal agencies working toward the creation of a thriving wind industry off California’s Central Coast have encountered a formidable opponent: the U.S. military. The Pentagon’s space restrictions in West Coast waters have so far stymied efforts to generate carbon-free electricity using floating wind turbines above the Outer Continental Shelf. The conflict threatens to further delay the federal government’s auction of leases in the state’s most desirable area for offshore wind energy development, originally planned for 2018. . . . Complete story »
Planning Commission denies appeals over design of Strauss energy project near Lompoc
The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission narrowly denied two appeals regarding another panel’s approval of issues related to the design features for a commercial wind energy farm south of Lompoc. Neighbors George and Cheryl Bedford and Citizens for Responsible Wind Energy have challenged the Central Board of Architectural Review’s approval of the Strauss Wind Energy Project. BayWa r.e. Wind LLC has proposed creating a $150 million clean-energy project with 29 wind turbine generators, as tall as 492 feet, on a . . . Complete story »
Neighbors file legal action over Strauss Wind Energy Project near Lompoc
Neighbors of the proposed Strauss Wind Energy Project south of Lompoc have filed legal action challenging the adequacy of the environmental review, calling it “inadequate, insufficient and misleading.” George and Cheryl Bedford, represented by Santa Maria attorney Richard Adam Jr., have strongly opposed the wind farm planned for 3,000 acres off San Miguelito Road. Listed as respondents, or defendants, were the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and unnamed others. BayWa r.e. Wind, LLC has proposed creating a commercial wind . . . Complete story »
Deal emerges to bring 1st offshore wind farms to Calif.
Offshore wind developers are lining up to build the first wind turbines off the coast of California. But they have a problem called the Department of Defense. For years, the military has managed to block the establishment of offshore wind lease areas off of Southern and central California, effectively holding back development across the entire state. Defense officials have said turbines would interrupt training exercises run by the Navy, the Air Force and other branches of the military out of . . . Complete story »
Campo tribal members plead for legal help, allege rights violated in wind project approval; Petition seeks revote on controversial project
“Our reservation is in dire financial condition. We have really nothing to give our youth…All we have are false promises.” —Denis Largo, tribal elder who delivered a petition calling for a vote to overturn wind project approval Whistleblowers in the Campo band of Mission Indians claim that their tribal leadership pushed through approval of a massive wind project during an improperly noticed meeting. They have now collected enough signatures to overturn that approval with a revote. But despite the Feb. . . . Complete story »
