CALIFORNIA’S MISGUIDED WIND POLICIES

Wind energy is being unfairly held back in California

Michael B. Gerrard and Nacy Rader, October 2, 2015 (Sacramento Bee)

“…[Beyond California’s new 50-percent-by-2030 renewable energy standard is] a brewing contradiction: Wind energy projects are being banned or severely restricted in several California counties and, more significantly, across vast federal lands in the state…These restrictions threaten the ability to achieve California’s climate-change goals…According to the most detailed state-commissioned assessment of what must be done to meet the 2030 target, each year the state will need to add 1,600 megawatts of renewable resources – roughly 16 new utility-scale projects – in addition to rooftop solar and aggressively increasing energy-efficiency…[S]ome rural communities clearly do not want local wind energy…despite California’s strict environmental laws and modern industry practices…Instead of carefully reviewing specific sites and using reasonable measures to address environmental, health, military and other concerns, these communities have resorted to wholesale bans, or have established unattainable standards that amount to bans…[where] mining, cattle grazing, recreational-vehicle use, and even oil and gas drilling – are allowed…No one is saying that utility-scale renewable energy should go everywhere, but [bans on wind projects cannot be part of a responsible solution…” click here for more

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