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Burney wind project goes down to wire
Our view: Wind power is welcome, but the affected community needs a chance to see the whole offer.
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Hatchet Ridge Wind, a $500 million electrical project in eastern Shasta County, has been in the works for a few years, and it has been exhaustively analyzed. We know how it will affect the habitat of the Butte County morning glory. We know what it will do to PG&E's power grid.
But the county remains strangely vague on a critical question: What's in it for Burney?
Among the dozens of conditions in the use permit that the Shasta County Planning Commission will weigh this afternoon is a sweetener to the people who would have to look every day at the dozens of 420-foot towers on their mountain skyline - a "Community Benefit Agreement" for Burney.
But what are the community benefits? The permit doesn't say. Rick Simon, the county's assistant resource management director, said the county and developer Renewable Energy Systems were still negotiating the details of a package, which Simon estimated would be worth $3 million over the life of the wind project.
"We would hope that by tomorrow evening's meeting," Simon said Wednesday afternoon, "the county and the applicant would be able to explain it to the community and the Planning Commission."
From the beginning, the developer has offered a contribution to Burney to ensure the town profits from the dramatic change to its landscape. Ideas have included a community hall, a recreation district and town beautification. The developer in July outlined donations to a Burney community fund and an educational foundation - each for $500,000 plus $25,000 a year - as well as an unspecified county-sponsored project.
It sounds promising, but the last-minute scramble doesn't instill confidence in the county's due diligence. And springing details at the Planning Commission meeting doesn't give the town time for a fully informed debate about the pros and cons.
Wind energy is part of electricity's future. It neither pollutes the air nor enriches Middle Eastern despots. We need more of it. And Hatchet, a gusty mountaintop with convenient power lines and access roads, is a fine place for turbines.
But what's good for America might not be best for a particular neighborhood.
Is the total Hatchet Ridge Wind package the right deal for Burney?
Who knows? The public has yet to see it.
Posted by dwilson on October 2, 2008 at 6:42 a.m.
The buy-in details for Burney residents are important and remain unclear. We do need more time to review such details if today is when we finally hear about them. More importantly to the local group who is against the project as proposed, why won't RES seriously consider the repositioning of the turbines so they don't tower over the city , turning it into Turbine Town? Most of us are for this project for the same reasons, but do not trust the lack of sincerity and long term intentions of the developer who has not even considered our point of view. MOVE THEM BACK is the one condition the county needs to support in order for this project to be a truly win-win for the community of Burney.
Posted by richsteele on October 2, 2008 at 8:21 a.m.
in response to dwilson
As you said they have been working on this for years. How much more time do you need?
This is exactly why nothing regarding energy will take 10 years to produce. It is not the construction it is all of the paper work and jawing that goes on.
Posted by Ken on October 2, 2008 at 9:53 a.m.
I am glad to see the RS giving this issue its due attention, but I'm very frustrated that the issue continues to be falsely framed as turbines on Hatchet Ridge or nothing.
The issue is not the size of the payoff, it is the location of these immense turbines and their horrible, and permanent, visual impact on Burney Basin. This is an avoidable outcome.
IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ON HATCHET RIDGE. THE WIND BLOWS ON EVERY RIDGE BETWEEN HERE AND REDDING. PUTTING THEM ON HATCHET RIDGE PRODUCES THE MAXIMUM BAD EFFECT ON THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE EAST COUNTY. IF THE IDEA IS TO RUB OUR NOSES IN THE FACT THAT WHAT WE OUT HERE THINK DOESN'T COUNT, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
Please forgive my shouting, but you don't seem to hear what I and others have been saying at a normal volume.
It can be win/win if they move them back off of Hatchet Ridge. This alternative is being ignored by the developer, ignored by the county, and now ignored by you in your reporting and your editorial.
Posted by silvaron4 on October 2, 2008 at 3:03 p.m.
Whatever is done, it should be done in perpetuity. not a one time payment. The screaming over moving the project is futile, the project only works on the ridge. If moved from the ridge it's a lose/lose.
Posted by Wiegand on October 6, 2008 at 10:10 a.m.
In this age of energy needs wind power appears to be a noble idea and the approval of the Hatchet Ridge Wind Project is an ambitious undertaking. Sadly this project will be a death sentence for rare and endangered raptors each year as well as many other species of birds. The wind power industry has a very sad legacy when it comes to bird kills. Hundreds of Raptors are killed each year at Altamont pass area alone. New Technology and new wind turbine designs are on the horizon that will all but eliminate the raptor kill problem. I suggest that the county limit the use of the old wind turbine technology at the site and only approve the project making future wind turbine designs mandatory. Peregrine Falcons, Prairie Falcons, Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles, Red-tail Hawks, Red Shoulder Hawks, Coopers Hawks, Sharp Shinned Hawks, Merlin Falcons, Sparrow Hawks, Great Grey Owls, Horned Owls, Burrowing Owls, Barn Owls, Spotted Owls, Pygmy Owls, Screech Owls as well as many local and migratory bird species will all be on the kill list for this project. These precious bird species all deserve this consideration. Why has no one addressed this issue? Where are the Fish and Game Wildlife Biologists? Where are the Federal Wildlife Biologists? Jim Wiegand 222 5338
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