Why Green Power?

1. The Environmental Benefits include minimal, if any, byproducts of CO2 and other pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and lead in comparison to those produced in the creation of energy through fossil fuels.
2. Stimulating Our Hobbled Economy. In 1997, importing fossil fuels sent $65 billion dollars outside of our country. Renewable energy resources are developed at home. Furthering their development will keep billions of dollars here, creating more jobs for Americans.
3. Our Children's Future depends on the technological advancements of these energy sources. Two things we know for certain are that oil won't last forever and the sun will.
4. Our National Security is strengthened as our dependency for foreign oil is decreased. By moving toward renewable energies, we naturally shift toward freedom from unstable ground.

*reprinted from Campaign Earth

News

Windmill Project a Lesson for County

January 25, 2007

ENCOURAGING renewal energy sources often takes hard work - and can generate hard feelings.

Marin supervisors are acutely aware of that after approving a controversial windmill project on the McEvoy Ranch in North Marin.

The county also was reminded that the devil often is in the details, and is now preparing detailed guidelines that will limit the size and number of power-generating windmills in the county. Those rules address many of the concerns raised by opponents of the ranch's windmill, which included neighbors and some environmental groups.

The McEvoy Ranch project was a long and painful process for all involved, but the final result seems like a reasonable solution.

On Tuesday supervisors unanimously approved a nearly 150-foot windmill at the 552-acre McEvoy Ranch.

Three years ago, the ranch proposed building a 246-foot-tall windmill capable of generating 750 kilowatts of power. That would be enough power for the ranch and its olive oil processing operation.

Some neighbors objected to the size. They also feared approval would lead to something like the 5,400-windmill complex in the Altamont Pass. The Marin Conservation League and Marin Audubon Society also opposed the windmill, citing concerns about danger to birds and ridgelines.

The local Sierra Club endorsed the project, along with many farmers and ranchers in West Marin.

The jousting had begun.

The Planning Commission rejected the ranch's proposal for a smaller windmill - 210 feet tall including the rotor. The ranch appealed and made more concessions. Supervisors approved a smaller windmill - 148 feet - after the ranch also offered to move it 2,900 feet to the west. The windmill will generate 250 kilowatts.

Supervisor Steve Kinsey on Tuesday said the McEvoy Ranch efforts ultimately will benefit other farms and ranches. "We shouldn't punish the pioneers," he said.

He's right - if those pioneers are willing to play by the rules and be good neighbors.

The ranch's neighbors had valid concerns and questions and were right to challenge the original project, which simply was too tall at nearly 20 stories. The ranch also contributed to the delays by insisting at times that it couldn't make the windmill any smaller.

We would have preferred that the new rules were in place before this project was approved, but at least the McEvoy windmill will comply with those guidelines.

The reality is power-generating windmills of this size probably will remain rare in West and North Marin. The McEvoy windmill is just the second to be approved by the county; the other one is an 80-foot windmill on a ranch near Nicasio.

The new county rules also will eliminate any chance of West Marin ever resembling the Altamont Pass.

That is reassuring.

And with any luck, the next time a big windmill is proposed, everyone will know what the rules are and it won't take years - and so much energy - to resolve.

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For more information on any of these events, call us at: 415.497.6242 or send email to: david@sustainergysystems.com