Wind project backed for hills

Even though an alternative energy project near Lompoc will most likely kill an unknown number of birds or bats, the Santa Barbara County planning staff has recommended that it be approved Tuesday.

The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission is scheduled to make the final decision on a permit for the Lompoc Wind Energy Project in a special session 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Betteravia Government Center, 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria.

The project, which comprises 65 wind turbines, onsite collector power lines, electrical substation operations and maintenance building and other facilities, would pose several environmental impacts that cannot be mitigated.

However, because of the production of clean, renewable energy and its benefits to the agricultural community, staff has prepared a statement of overriding considerations for the commission.

If all 65 wind turbine generators (WTGs) are approved, the project would generate an estimated 285 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year, equivalent to the electrical usage of 40,000 to 50,000 households, according to the staff report presented to the commissioners.

The project would be on 2,950 acres of leased, agriculturally-zoned land about 5 miles southwest of Lompoc adjacent to San Miguelito Road - bordered on the north by the Vandenberg Air Force Base and east by privately owned agricultural land.

The staff report stated it would increase renewable energy generation and avert construction of new fossil fuel-burning power plants.

Pacific Renewable Energy Generation LLC, a subsidiary of Acciona Wind Energy USA, of Solana Beach, Calif., is the applicant. The project has been in the county hopper since 2006.

Although the final environmental report concluded that a downsized project would be environmentally superior, county planning staff disagreed.

"The benefits of the full, proposed project far outweigh the adverse environmental impacts associated with it," the staff report stated. And it listed the clean energy production, air quality improvement and an increase in property taxes as a few of the benefits.

The turbines have to be placed along the ridgeline where the most wind blows, otherwise the project would not economically viable.

At nearly 400 feet tall, the turbines pose an unavoidable threat to birds and bats, which could strike the blades and towers.

Staff did recommend a modification to the final environmental report that would require a shut-down of the WTGs if a great number of protected or sensitive species are killed by the turbines.

Although mitigation such as color and placement have been developed to reduce potential bird or bat collisions, the options for reducing potential impact are limited.

The ridgeline position would also cause "significant, unavoidable visual impacts," in public viewing areas on San Miguelito Road and from Jalama Beach, according to the staff report.

The Planning Commission is scheduled to consider approval of the construction and operation of the wind energy facility and certify the project environmental impact report at the Tuesday hearing.