County Supervisors Postpone Hearing on Wind Energy Project

The board votes to grant more time for ongoing discussions between the parties involved.

By Sonia Fernandez, Noozhawk Staff Writer | Published on 12.16.2008

  • E-mail
  • Print this page Print
  • Post | View Comments (1)
    • Share
 

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted 4-0 (Supervisor Joni Gray recused herself) to continue a hearing on appeals of the Lompoc Wind Energy Project to a date in February 2009.

The wind farm project, which will include up to 65 turbines and various related facilities on agricultural land near Vandenberg Air Force Base, has been in a tug-of-war between its proponents, Acciona Wind Energy USA, and neighbors of the proposed project who say the wind farm would affect their quality of life.

The California Department of Fish & Game also has filed an appeal to the project, which was approved by the supervisors in September. The DFG appealed on the basis of, among other things, the effects to wildlife and habitats in the area where the wind farm would be constructed.

Supporters of the project include local environmental groups, who, while advocating for more stringent monitoring of potential bird and bat strikes with the turbines, are pushing for more renewable energy in the county. The project is estimated to be able to provide more than 40,000 homes with power.

The hearing was set for Tuesday, but because of ongoing discussions between the parties involved, the supervisors granted a continuance to let all sides work their issues out before coming back to the board.

Write to sfernandez@noozhawk.com.

Comments

Noozhawk's comments are moderated, but by posting here you accept your responsibility to follow our rules as part of Noozhawk's shared online community. Please keep your comments civil and helpful. Don't attack other readers personally, and do not use vulgar, abusive or discriminatory language. Use the "Report Abuse" link if a comment violates these standards or our Terms of Use.

You must be a registered user to comment. Create a user account

Log in




Auto-login on future visits

Forgot your password?

» Robert C. Meltzer on 12.17.08 @ 04:30 PM

Alternative energy vs the environmentalists?  I thought the enviros were in favor of alternative energy.  Oh, yeah.  Just Not In My Back Yard.  This should put the Supes in a quandary.

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

More Local News »

Big-Rig Driver Killed in Highway 101 Crash Was Under the Influence of Meth, Officials Say

The tractor-trailer struck a sedan, trapping a woman and her young daughters inside the vehicle as it dangled over a bridge railing

Santa Barbara Officials Concerned About Fate of Saved Funds for Projects as RDA Dissolves

Once formed, an oversight committee will approve all spending related to the city's former redevelopment agency

UCSB Senior Arrested as Suspect in Firebombing of Isla Vista Foot Patrol Station

Sheriff's Department video shows a lone person throwing flaming objects at the building; a similar November incident remains unsolved

New Ban Prohibits Vehicles with Hazardous Materials from Traveling on Highway 154

Authorities say the restriction is part of a proactive approach to preventing accidents and incidents along the thoroughfare

Goleta Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Murder-for-Hire Plot

Eugene Darryl Temkin was found guilty of soliciting a hitman to kill three people, including a former business partner

Weather: Fair 52.0º


© Malamute Ventures LLC 2007-2012 | ISSN No. 1947-6086

Web Design & Development by PixelFive