Will Windmills Tilt Toward Julian?

Volcan Mountain

By Bobbi Zane

The specter of power-generating windmills marching along the crest of Volcan Mountain brought about 100 Julian residents out to a Town Hall meeting to discuss a proposal for meteorological test towers on the hillside above Banner Grade.

SeaWest, a San Diego-based power company, seeks permits to install the towers, whose test results would help determine whether the firm should proceed with a plan to install a clutch of power-generating windmills along the ridge at the east end of Volcan Mountain.

Environmental Concerns

Environmental concerns were the chief issue for most who attended the Aug. 11 meeting, especially the impact on resident and migrating birds, noise, and the potential degradation of the view if the 300- to 400-foot-tall wind-generating machines are installed.

The meeting, sponsored by the Volcan Mountain Foundation, included representatives from all sides of the issue:

• Mike Azeka, of SeaWest, described the company’s plans and current wind-generating programs elsewhere.

• Lynda Kastoll represented the Bureau of Land Management, which owns the 1,805 acres of land on both sides of Highway 78 on which SeaWest is seeking an easement.

• Kelly Fuller spoke on behalf of the Sierra Club, which opposes installation of wind turbines in the Banner area.

• Scott Crider discussed SDG&E’s future role in the SeaWest plan.

• Rick Campbell, local resident and owner of The Birdwatcher in Julian, addressed the environmental impact of placing the turbines in the Banner flyway.

Richard Caputo chaired the meeting, called at the request of Jeff Cahoon, a member of the Volcan Mountain Foundation.

The forum appeared to generate more questions than answers. Azeka stressed that the company “has no present plans to develop this project” on Volcan Mountain but conceded that even if conditions there are right for energy production, the project would take up to five years to complete.

If the wind farm is built, he said, “the site (occupies) less than 2 miles of ridge. It would have about 10 to 15 turbines about 1,000 feet apart. “

Azeka said the Bureau of Land Management had not acted on SeaWest’s application, submitted in November 2003, to install the test sites.

Kastoll concurred, explaining that the agency currently had no staff available to review the request or address the environmental issues. But she said the initial work might have proceeded unnoticed, as “this project would have minimum impact, a small footprint and doesn’t meet the criteria for public involvement.”

Responding to the number of people who attended the meeting, she said that in all likelihood, public involvement including a “full-blown environmental review” would be held before the agency makes any decisions and that in any case, “federal and state laws would apply.”

Campbell and Fuller were most concerned about potential environmental impacts. Using a Power Point presentation, Fuller explained why Banner Grade is not appropriate for wind energy.

“Wind would cause harm to birds and bats,” she said. “There would be increased fire risk (from exploding turbines). There could be adverse impact on local property values. Blinking lights would be necessary (atop the towers).”

Campbell was concerned about damage to the area’s rich bird habitat.

“San Diego County holds 492 species of birds,” he said, “more than any county in the United States. The county is a major flyway for additional migratory birds. Due to the mines, Banner is a rich bat habitat.”

Campbell recommended designating Banner Grade a scenic highway and ending “this wind turbine threat.”

The next step appears to be up to the Bureau of Land Management, which may schedule public meetings on the project.

To participate, contact Vicki Wood, Field Office Manager, Bureau of Land Management, 1661 S. Fourth St., El Centro, CA 92243.

Photo by Bobbi Zane