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

McEvoy windmill sends neighbor spinning

by Jim Kravets, Point Reyes Light, August 18, 2005

A county zoning administrator will hold a public meeting on Thursday, Aug. 25, to consider issuing permits for a 210-foot-tall windmill to be constructed at the McEvoy Olive Ranch, located just east of Red Hill on Point Reyes-Petaluma Road.

The proposed windmill would be 130 feet tall, 11 feet wide, and have three blades creating a rotor 154 feet across. The windmill will generate 660 kilowatts of electricity – enough to power the entire 550-acre ranch, said Tom Williard of Bolinas, project manager for Sustainergy Systems, the 6-month-old Inverness company in charge of the project.

The windmill, made by the Dutch company Vesta, is to be located on a ridgeline rising 150 feet above the ranch and due east of the ranch buildings. Sustainergy officials met with nearby residents to mitigate the mill’s impact, and Williard is hopeful for a smooth zoning hearing.

"In the wind energy business, this one is only considered a medium-sized windmill," he said.

Nevertheless, the anticipated sight and sound of the windmill has some neighbors concerned.

"We have this pristine countryside, and now on a visible ridgeline we’ll have this large erection," said Sumner Schleshinger, a neighbor who lives a quarter-mile from the proposed site.

Schleshinger is also worried that the peaceful atmosphere he’s enjoyed for nearly half a century will be compromised by the system’s whirling blades and generator.

"A McEvoy ranch manager told me, ‘you’ll just have to get used to it,’" Schleshinger told The Light. "Why would I want to? I’ve lived here for 45 years."

Sustainergy’s plans appear to meet county codes for wind energy conversion systems in "A-60"-zoned agricultural districts, said Curtis Havel, staff planner for the county. Havel, who is writing the staff report on this application, noted that codes require windmills be set back from the tops of visually prominent ridgelines.

"Obviously the viewer’s perspective needs to be considered when defining a "visually prominent ridgeline," Havel said. "We’ll approach this case-by-case. That’s exactly why we have this process and these hearings."

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For more information, you may also call 415.497.6242 or send email to: david@sustainergysystems.com