County urged not to issue permit for wind towers

County urged not to issue permit for wind towers

By Anne Adams • Staff Writer'

MONTEREY — Several years ago, a group of citizens opposed to the industrial wind project planned in Highland formed Highlanders for Responsible Development. Initially, the citizens involved worked to disseminate information about the planned utility to county residents, and has since evolved, creating opportunities for other economic development workshops and projects.
This week, HRD added its voice once again to those concerned
about how Highland New Wind Development’s plans might affect the county.
They wrote to county supervisors
and the Technical Review Committee July 23.
“For years, we and many others from all parts of Highland County have come to your meetings to express our opposition to the proposed
wind turbine project,” HRD wrote. “We listened as overwhelming
numbers of others also took time off from their jobs and family to speak at public hearings, write letters, and express their sincere towersconcern about and opposition to this project. This proposed development
of a commercial wind facility in what is certainly one of the most ecologically sensitive watersheds in the county, and indeed
the state, would inevitably be extremely detrimental. The likely destruction of this valuable natural resource would be a great loss for all county residents, property owners, businesses, and visitors. It likely would deny for all time those in the future who might come to visit or to live in Highland County the opportunity of sharing in the appreciation of this unique place.
“HNWD has not provided the required plans in a responsible and satisfactory manner and not met the requirements set forth by the State Corporation Commission,”
the letter continued. “We are pleased to see that you have also questioned the adequacy of the developer’s plans. The developer has had well over two years to prepare detailed and correct plans ‘designed to mitigate the impact of the proposed project on nearby property owners and the natural environment,’ as required by the county. He has not done so. This is not how a responsible developer goes about proceeding with a large and controversial project. The (supervisors),
the TRC, the citizens and the taxpayers of Highland County deserve much more.
“Therefore, we, the undersigned,
ask that HNWD’s request for both a building permit and an extension of its Conditional Use Permit be denied and that the existing CUP permit be allowed to expire.”
The letter was signed by HRD board president Laurie Berman, along with Frances Davenport, Debora Ellington, Lewis Freeman, Pendleton Goodall, Sharon Hevener,
Ken McGraw, Annette Naber, Patti Reum, Randy Richardson, and Lee Taplinger.