Shasta County fights back, plans media campaign against Fountain Wind project
Redding Record Searchlight|Damon Arthur|Oct 26, 2023
The project was rejected by the county planning commission, and two years ago by the Board of Supervisors. However, new legislation, AB 205, allows the California Energy Commission to consider approving the project. That means the state could overrule Shasta County and approve the Fountain Wind project. According to county spokesman David Maung, the energy commission is still reviewing ConnectGen's application for approval. Once the application is considered complete, the commission has 270 days to further review the project and finally issue a decision on whether to approve plans for the turbines.
The project was rejected by the county planning commission, and two years ago by the Board of Supervisors. However, new legislation, AB 205, allows the California Energy Commission to consider approving the project. That means the state could overrule Shasta County and approve the Fountain Wind project. According to county spokesman David Maung, the energy commission is still reviewing ConnectGen's application for approval. Once the application is considered complete, the commission has 270 days to further review the project and finally issue a decision on whether to approve plans for the turbines.
Shasta County residents are likely to hear more from their county government over the next year as it rolls out a media campaign against a proposed wind energy generation farm in the eastern part of the county.
The county plans to spend up to $100,000 on creating a website, sending out direct mail ads, creating video and radio ads and developing a media kit to inform the public about what the county considers the negative effects of the proposed Fountain Wind energy generation facility.
"I'm glad we're spending money on this. This is the right thing. Our ability to prevail ultimately on this is probably only 50-50, but it's the right thing to do. It's the right thing for us to address it and to fight back," Board of Supervisors Chairman …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]Shasta County residents are likely to hear more from their county government over the next year as it rolls out a media campaign against a proposed wind energy generation farm in the eastern part of the county.
The county plans to spend up to $100,000 on creating a website, sending out direct mail ads, creating video and radio ads and developing a media kit to inform the public about what the county considers the negative effects of the proposed Fountain Wind energy generation facility.
"I'm glad we're spending money on this. This is the right thing. Our ability to prevail ultimately on this is probably only 50-50, but it's the right thing to do. It's the right thing for us to address it and to fight back," Board of Supervisors Chairman Patrick Jones said at a recent board meeting.
Texas-based ConnectGen wants to build up to 48 wind turbines on 4,500 acres in the Montgomery Creek-Round Mountain area, which is about 35 miles east of Redding. According to the company's website, the turbines would have the capacity to generate about 200 megawatts, enough potential to power about 80,000 homes.
The project has faced stiff opposition from county residents who claim the wind generators would hamper firefighting efforts in an area of high fire danger potential. The turbines would also be unsightly and would disrupt burial sites sacred to the Pit River Tribe, according to county officials and comments at public meetings.
The Fountain Wind project would be west of the Hatchet Ridge wind farm, which consists of 44 turbines near Burney.
The project was rejected by the county planning commission, and two years ago by the Board of Supervisors. However, new legislation, AB 205, allows the California Energy Commission to consider approving the project. That means the state could overrule Shasta County and approve the Fountain Wind project.
According to county spokesman David Maung, the energy commission is still reviewing ConnectGen's application for approval. Once the application is considered complete, the commission has 270 days to further review the project and finally issue a decision on whether to approve plans for the turbines.
County officials have said they consider the state's effort to consider the project an "overreach" to take away local control from county officials.
ConnectGen, however, sees the project as an economic boon to the county, creating $30 million in property tax revenue over a 30-year period, according to the company's website. Among other benefits, the company would also provide $1 million to the county sheriff's office and $3.5 million in sales tax revenue during the project's construction, the website says.
Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834, by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!