Friend of the Eel Reconsiders: Now Supports TerraGen’s Humboldt Wind
example of wind turbines [public domain photo by Petr Kratochvil]
The windfarm proposed by Terra Gen for Monument and Rainbow Ridges above the Lower Eel River is, to put it mildly, not without controversy over its potential impacts.
Many neighbors of the proposed project strongly object to the prospect of gigantic wind turbines looming on their horizon.
Environmental groups, including FOER, are gravely concerned about potentially very significant impacts to wildlife, especially raptors like golden eagles, and various bat species.
And the Wiyot Tribe has expressed its strong opposition to any disruption both of ancient cultural sites on the ridges and of the sacred ridgetop itself.
Twenty years ago, or even a decade ago, these concerns would probably have led FOER to simply oppose this project, perhaps in favor of more attractive (if less well-defined) alternative renewable energy projects. Today however, given the scale and urgency of the climate crisis, it is critical that we move to replace our carbon-intensive energy supply as rapidly as possible. We no longer have the luxury of multi-decade planning horizons.
It is very difficult to exaggerate the threat climate change poses to the ecosystems we are fighting to protect and restore. We are very rapidly approaching conditions that threaten catastrophic disruption not only of terrestrial systems, but potential collapse of the oceanic foodwebs on which our salmon, steelhead, and lamprey rely.
Simply put, we must move forward with any and every potentially significant source of renewable energy as long as it doesn’t really mess up things we cannot lose. In our view, the proposed Terra Gen windfarm does not yet meet that standard. Regulators must adopt additional mitigations if the project is to avoid serious harms to critically important resources.
However. If the project is adequately mitigated, as it can and should be, particularly for its potential harm to wildlife and for the additional risks of wildfire its transmission line presents, then FOER views the proposed project not only as feasible and defensible, but as necessary, indeed urgent.
We do not come to this position lightly, nor without awareness that it will disappoint some of our allies and supporters. But we feel a deep responsibility to address these very painful questions with a balance of passion for the need to protect the future, humility in our awareness of the limits of our understanding, and the honesty to speak the truth as clearly as we can, even if it is hard for many to hear.
The Humboldt County Planning Commission will hold a workshop to gain a more thorough understanding of the project at tomorrow, Thursday November 14th at 4:00 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors chambers.
The agenda and public comments on the agenda are available online on the Planning Commission’s page of the County website.
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
Oh NO! Has anyone read the book “Killing Maine” by Mike Bond? Im sure it’s fiction but based on what my brother-in-law tells me, who helped install these monoliths, it’s pretty much based on facts.
Also, have you all read the backstory research that has been done on these particular kinds of units (unremovable huge amounts of cement, oil consumption, etc.)?
Homework needs to be seriously done before approving this project folks! And, I’m all for alternative energy! It just needs to be smart AA!
Thanks for taking a position not popular with a lot of local environmentalists. I’m sure you will get a lot of outraged calls and emails.
It’s good to know some folks in the environmental field realize that nature bats last and that she’s an equal opportunity destroyer when provoked.
Cool glad to know you support slaughtering birds including the endangered murrelet. They will go extinct if this plan goes thru.
Who gives a fuck if native folks dont want their sacred space used this way. Lets keep fucking them over hooray! Us white dudes been doing it for so long it’s so easy hahaha (insert evil mastermind laff)
great work
Wish i could get my donations back.
Screw the wind project, it kills animals and is just handing our power over to yet another corporate interest.
Investing in micro grids like the blue lake rancheria did is our best bet. They were the only ones with power the entire time. And they used the local amazing Scatz energy lab to do it.
Terra gen will rent the poles from pge which will still get shut off as its the POWER PLANT that needs transfer switch upgrades to isolate our area.
Theyre using fear to scare you into believing them, dont buy the BS they’re selling.
Supporting the wind project is the same as supporting PGE, it will be the same scenario only with the added feature of loads of dead critters.
And fyi THE BIGGEST WILDFIRE IN WASHINGTON STATE THIS YEAR WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY TURBINE
Sound familiar?!?
Dont buy the hype and dont trust FOER as respected folks, theyre not.
Solar and wind power are 1970’s technologies, we need to demand that the newer ways of generating power with little to no harm are allowed to be produced.
Like the little gadgets theycan put on highways that generate power from car tires driving over them. We could have enough power for the state just with those.
Ps Scott now i know why everyone has been saying not to support you after you turned on your staff, lied to your board and now show your true colors. FOER ought to be ashamed. I will never support them again & will be letting those out in the world of environmental grants know what youre doing
In other words, Friends of the Eel picks the river over the ridge.
Based on his comment I have no idea why Scott Greacen just suddenly changed his mind… really disappointing. I, like many others, understand the dire situation that the earth is in. Basically it’s in the ICU in critical condition. It needs help fast. But, if I was in critical condition and a doctor told me that he could give me a shot that would save my life and I could get that shot ANYWHERE on my body… Do you think I would get that shot in my eye? The most sensitive area of a human body? No. I would not. And neither would Scott. Humboldt is one of the most sensitive areas in California. Tie into the grid in the desert! Not here. It’s the wrong LOCATION. It’s all the same to the grid. These ecosystems are the FUTURE, not concrete monstrosities. I can’t understand how this would even be considered safe in our region in anyway. If you are trying to relieve your guilt over being a consumer of fossil fuels and a owner of untold plastic products, please don’t jump at the first chance you get to relieve that guilt. If you want to make a difference right now, then use less right now. It’s easy and immediate. Don’t expect corporations to save you. It’s really quite pathetic. If you want to do something for your community then take care of your own personal needs by living a more simple life and that will help everyone.
There doesn’t seem to be a way to make power for the masses that doesn’t cause some kind of problem. Except energy conservation!
Hick- Thank you for saying this obvious truth out loud here. Yes- the only real way out of our mess is to reduce consumption and reduce (gasp!) population. These are the only two real solutions and neither one is being discussed because…well, it’s inconvenient. So now instead we have environmental groups endorsing environmentally destructive projects…
Energy conservation is key.
But with the release of a 5G network, more electric cars being produced, more electronic devices being purchased, outdoor growers going indoor :), etc – the demand for electricity will only increase into the future, not decrease. That is why it is important to focus on renewables that are most efficient.
I applaud FOER publicizing this unpopular opinion and their explanation why they made this decision. It aligns closely with my own opinion. I would like to see further mitigations, yet must support this project because we are on the brink of losing everything due to the climate crisis.
HELLO, this project will never be carbon neutral, or do anything significant enough to have an effect on climate change. It’s in an ecologically sensitive habit, very close to wildlife sanctuaries. It’s strongly apposed by the Tribes. This project has NO and REJECT written all over it! I want to see Condors soaring, not oil companies profits, and loud wind turbines! Find a better place!
Could you please post your facts on how this wouldn’t be carbon neutral?
Otherwise its just your opinion and quite frankly, false information.
On a smaller scale, how about putting a few windmills in Samoa near the existing power generation plants. It’s already an industrial area and has an existing power distribution system nearby.
Thank you FOTE for doing the right thing instead of just trying to appease your most vocal sponsors by any means.
Is no one aware of the OFFSHORE WIND coming soon to Humboldt’s coast?
BETTER PLACE! Better technology [more power per turbine etc.]
This has been front page in the NCJ and other news press; if unaware, just refer to the NCJ archive for background. Also, first offshore pilot has just been moved ahead. Go to RCEA website for project overview / project archive.
Local offshore wind makes this project– Irrelevant. Offshore potential is just exponentially higher,—accommodating latest turbines w/ up to 12MW each. About 12 of these could power all of Humboldt [assuming avg. capacity factor / 24/7]
At 35 miles offshore, would be out of sight. In comparison to Terra Gen, much less environmental issues.
No land installation impacts; larger turbines w/ slower tip speeds for less bird impact. Seafloor power transmission vs overland towers.
Offshore Humboldt rated Highest Wind capacity factor of entire USA. Worldwide, offshore wind growing
at huge rates, so expanding technology. Studies indicate northcoast CA offshore wind has potential to power ALL of California. By Itself. Yes, it’s probably 5 yrs + to begin build out, but when implemented would most likely result in much lower $kwh PPA contract price vs Terra-Gen due to economies of scale.
Expect heavy ‘buyers’ regret’ w/ Terra Gen after offshore reigns supreme.
At very least, offshore wind should enter into the discussion relative to Terra-Gen cost/benefit – impacts in decision making process. Yes, no free lunch w/ either, yet situation is deserving of detailed comparisons.
Dissenting stakeholders [ enviro groups / tribes ] might want to take note!
I am so disappointed in FOER. They have lost my support.
Well it’s obvious their title should be changed to enemies of the eel,
How do you mitigate for bird and bat strikes in in a super foggy spot. Giant Turbines in clouds.
Where was FOER during the Greenrush??
Terra Gen (our new pro wind “friends”) is owned by Energy Capital Partners.
Energy Capital Partners is a private equity firm focused on investing in North America’s energy infrastructure and acquired Terra-Gen in 2015.
Energy Capital Partners, an investment group that uses tax-avoiding offshore investing techniques and has deep ties to Goldman Sachs,
In an article on zero hedge.com entitled Enron 2.0: Wall Street Manipulates Energy Prices … and Every Other Market
“the managing partners of Energy Capital Partners highly sophisticated all-star crew of former Wall Street financiers: four of the five managing partners are Goldman Sachs veterans, and the firm’s vice-presidents and principals are alumni of JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Credit Suisse and other financial powerhouses. These are not your run-of-the-mill owners and operators of power plants. They are Wall Streeters highly motivated to exploit the intricacies of power markets to make as much money as possible for their Cayman Islands-based affiliates.
They are using the cloak of climate change to appeal to green customers……climate change is real and so is GREED. It’s no different than what happened in the 90’s with Charles Hurwitz/Texans rolling in with fat wallets. PG & E outages were just priming us for a corporate take over, now after those black outs we REALLY NEED solutions, right?
WRONG! They’re ready to pounce at one of the few natural beautiful places left.
There are a million other solutions, let us come up with our own solutions, LOCALLY!!!
https://www.ecpartners.com/portfolio
Opening Humboldt County up to these snakes is a baaaaad idea!!
Hell no, go home you goones!
Check out the photo of the all white, all right MALE group thats leading Humboldt to salvation from energy dependence. Riiiiiiiiiiiight, thats a hell no on my end.
Not surprised.
This project is bad news. Yes, we need renewable energy. Destroying trees and bulldozing acres and acres of soil in very sensitive ecosystems is not the answer. Soil, trees, and grasslands are carbon sinks. Other countries are sensibly combatting climate change by planting millions of trees. Destroying carbon sinks to “save the planet” is crazy! It’s simply robbing Peter to pay Paul. In this scenario, Paul is TerraGen and they’ll be paid millions, while our County will experience irreversible detrimental effects. It’s astounding that Friends of the Eel would support this. TerraGen wants to start cutting trees and bulldozing earth on steep slopes over the WINTER! This could cause landslides and severe runoff into the Eel River. This sudden reversal is very questionable. I know TerraGen has been offering the “opposition” incentives to stop opposing this project. When community leaders oppose their projects, they say things like ” Wouldn’t you like a new gym or ballfield? We could make that happen for you.” Because they’re so greedy, they assume everyone else is. Disgusting! I wish they’d take their shady tactics elsewhere and leave us the heck alone. The only green things this mega corporation is truly interested in are greenbacks.
I very much like the idea of putting them on Samoa pennisula
First Natalyn Delapp leaves her post at EPIC and prostitutes herself to industrialists, now foer does the same, mouthing the same propaganda of the wind industry word for word. I had supported them on there work with the Potter Valley Project, but now I know they can’t be trusted to represent our community. I will no longer support them, and I’ll immediately investigate their dealings with Estelle Fennell and her bunch on the Potter Valley Project. I recommend others do the same.
I agree.
Friends of big business. Friends of the eel sell out. Who in their organization decided this bs?