www.windaction.org

Proposed wind turbine farm in McCain Valley met with opposition
May 7, 2013 by John Carroll in ABC TV 10 News

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.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape]

Wildlife Embarrassing snafu at Ocotillo Express Wind Project
April 29, 2013 by Chris Clarke in ReWire

This isn't the first time that reports have surfaced of workers at the Ocotillo Express Wind site failing to hew to the highest standards of professionalism. In February, Pattern's construction manager Russell Scott Graham was arrested by Imperial County Sheriffs deputies after allegedly assaulting and threatening Parke Ewing, a local opponent of the project.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape]

Native American Heritage Commission declares Ocotillo wind site a sacred site; asks attorney general to weigh legal action
April 26, 2013 by Miriam Raftery in East County Magazine

By a 4-0 vote, with the remaining commissioners absent, the NAHC voted to grant requests by Viejas and Quechan tribes to declare the 12,400 acre Ocotillo wind project site a sanctified Native American sacred site. Further, the commissioners voted unanimously to ask California Attorney General Kamala Harris to research if legal action can be taken.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape]

Tribal Commission seeks enforcement action against Pattern project
April 23, 2013 in North American Windpower

The California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) has declared the area surrounding the Ocotillo Wind Energy Facility, located in Imperial Valley, Calif., as a sacred Native American site and is seeking assistance on enforcement options from the office of the California Attorney General.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape]

Wind turbine approved by San Leandro might be headed to court
April 3, 2013 by Ashly McGlone in Contra Costa Times

The City Council voted 5-1 Monday night after a nearly three-hour discussion to deny an appeal of the approval granted in February by the city's Board of Zoning Adjustments for the turbine, which required a variance because it exceeds the city's 60-foot height limit.

Also filed under [ Legal]

Commercial wind turbine approved for San Leandro's shoreline as residents ready for a lawsuit
April 3, 2013 by Steven Tavares in Eastbay Express

"The [Heron Bay Homeowners Association] board has to make formal vote on it, but I think we were committed before and we're committed now that we will be filing in Superior Court," said Alan Berger, the attorney for the homeowners association. "We absolutely do not feel the board of zoning and the city council followed all of the voluminous case law in California ...."

Also filed under [ Impact on Wildlife| Legal]

Manzanita Health Study
February 15, 2013 by Billie Jo Jannen in The Alpine Sun

The research team, which operates under CSU San Marcos, is currently conducting additional interviews with families who live along the Manzanita-Campo border where the turbines are located, Alvarez said. The next step is to test air, water and soil to identify any factors other than the turbines that could cause or contribute to the kinds of illnesses being reported.

Also filed under [ Noise]

Battle lines drawn in Boulevard to fight massive energy projects
January 28, 2013 by Miriam Raftery in East County Magazine

Ocotillo's project also changed the hydrology of the desert to cause erosion and flooding. "Construction was an absolute nightmare," he added, citing dust storms, noise and floodlights all night long shining in his windows. When he complained, lights were directed at him even from places where no work was occurring, an action he suspects was malicious.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape]

The betrayal of Boulevard: Can this happen to your town, too?
January 11, 2013 by Miriam Raftery in East County Magazine

Iberdrola, developer of Tule Wind, successfully fought to remove significant protections in Boulevard's Community Plan during the County's General Plan Update--changes that made it easier to build massive energy projects. Supervisors approved those changes in August 2011, tossing out years of planning by Boulevard residents. Those changes appall the vast majority of those who live in this quiet rural community.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape]

Lights, blade shadows disturb residences in Ocotillo after Pattern Energy brings wind project online
December 8, 2012 by Miriam Raftery and videos by Jim Pelley in East County Magazine

I now have bright red lights flashing in my face which I can also see inside my house which are very annoying and totally unacceptable." The shadow flicker has a disquieting impact as well, casting vast moving shadows as three blades on each turbine rotates.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape]

Concerns looming over Ocotillo Wind Express
October 13, 2012 by Alejandro Davila in Imperial Valley Press

As turbines rise in Ocotillo Wind Express, questions remain over the type of impacts the project will bring to the Valley and its westernmost community. Some fear about their health. But whether turbines do in fact pose health concerns is an issue of much contention as studies and experts sit on opposing sides.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape]

Court hearing Sept 7 for residents seeking temporary restraining order against Ocotillo Express Wind
August 13, 2012 by Miriam Raftery in East County Magazine

Plaintiffs contend that irreparable harm has occurred and that an injunction is necessary to protect human life, public safety and environmental injury. Already permanent harm has been done to desert habitat by illegal activities, the suit adds. The lawsuit is one of at least five filed by numerous organizations seeking to halt the project.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape]

Take a stand in the sand: Protesters seek to save Ocotillo from destruction on Saturday, August 11
August 8, 2012 by Miriam Raftery in East County Magazine

Up to 40 million acres of public lands are targeted for industrialization with renewable energy development. Among the first of these large-scale projects is Ocotillo Wind, a 12,500 acre wind project now under construction ...has left horrified residents convinced this is anything but green.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape]

Quechan Tribe sues to halt construction of wind factory on sacred land
June 23, 2012 by Gale Courey Toensing in Indian Country Today

The tribe was so doubtful about the Pattern Energy survey of the site's cultural resources that it sent in its own experts with trained forensic dogs who did a quick and cursory survey and found an additional six burial/cremation sites, for a total of 12 cremation sites in this particular area, Escalanti says. The tribe still practices the sacred rite of cremation, as their tribal ancestors did before them, according to court documents. Escalanti says the tribe has asked to meet with the decision-makers.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape]

Group files lawsuit against Pattern Energy and federal government, alleges "illegal" actions over Ocotillo Wind Project
June 19, 2012 by Miriam Raftery in East County Magazine

Government accused of illegally approving "ineligible" project that failed to meet minimum federal wind speed standards Violations of other laws alleged, including discrimination against low-income residents

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape]

Wind farm thrusts remote desert town into future
June 11, 2012 by Morgan Lee in San Diego Union-Tribune

In May, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar signed a right-of-way grant, bringing to a close three years of impact studies for a power plant that will stretch across about 10,000 acres, forming a crescent around the town. Local conservationists and an Arizona-based tribe that traces its ancestry to the area have turned to state and federal courts to stop the project.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape]

Ocotillo Express Wind Facility opposition grows
June 6, 2012 by Gale Courey Toensing in Indian Country Today

"The Quechan Tribe has been holding a vigil for the last five days on the site of the Ocotillo Wind project near some recently discovered cremation areas," Terry Weiner, Desert Protective Council's coordinator for Imperial County projects and conservation, told Indian Country Today Media Network on May 30. "There has been singing and telling of the creation story and just being together in this beautiful desert."

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape]

Judge denies temporary restraining order for Ocotillo Express wind project
May 25, 2012 by Miriam Raftery in East County Magazine

Quechan contends the project will cause irreparable harm to hundreds of cites including burial and cremation sites, as well as tens of thousands of artifacts. Forensic dog teams hired by tribes last week found six new cremation sites. Tribal members, who in modern times have continued to use the site for ceremonial purposes, also sought to protect views of mountains sacred in their religious beliefs of creation.

Also filed under [ Impact on Landscape| USA]

Ocotillo wind project advances despite tribal objections
May 12, 2012 by Morgan Lee in San Diego Union-Tribune

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar signed off on the project's Environmental Impact Statement over the objection of Native American tribal officials who remain concerned about the aesthetic impact of the project on ancestral lands and the potential for disturbing cultural and archaeological artifacts, including possible cremation sites.

Also filed under [ Impact on Wildlife| Impact on Landscape| USA]

Whistleblower alleges gag order kept state park employees from revealing harm to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park from proposed Ocotillo Express Wind Project
March 27, 2012 by Miriam Raftery in East County Magazine

"To have the Governor's office tell our park officials NOT to comment on Ocotillo, OR ANY OTHER alternative energy projects adjacent to the Park, is a travesty, a violation of the trust between the citizens and the state." - Mark Jorgensen, retired Superintendent, Anza Borrego Desert State Park in an e-mail to ECM.

Also filed under [ Impact on Wildlife]

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