Turbine expansions planned

Turbine expansions planned
By Danny Bernardini/ Dbernardini@TheReporter.com
Posted: 08/23/2009

Two new wind turbine farms are waiting for approval to be built in the Montezuma Hills, although one applicant may have a harder time getting the green light.

The Montezuma Wind Project recently received a ruling from the Federal Aviation Administration saying the 16-23 turbines being installed would not pose a threat to radar systems.

Montezuma was originally proposed alongside enXco's Shiloh II project, which went on-line in February after a drawn-out process involving Travis Air Force Base and its radar systems. That process ended shortly after enXco promised $1 million to help with any potential problems with Travis' new radar system installed in November.

Travis had contested the turbines interfered with radar screens, including images of small planes disappearing from the radar and others appearing when the planes weren't actually there. The applicants of the Montezuma project have begun the process for approval, said Mike Yankovich, planning director for Solano County.

Also in the works is the third phase of a wind turbine project by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). It would double the amount of energy currently being produced by the first two phases.

The third phase would be included in the 6,775 acres SMUD already owns, which features turbines rated at 102 megawatts. That property borders the Sacramento River and is near the land previously owned years ago by Dow Chemical.

Because SMUD is a public entity, it does not need to go through the permitting process, Yankovich said. It does however need a clearance from the FAA, which both Shiloh II and Montezuma have received.

The problem, he said, is the Solano County Airport Land Use Commission has stated it believes the project is in their jurisdiction and must comply with the Travis Air Force Land Use Compatibility Plan (TALUCP). The ALUC also objected to the Shiloh II project until Travis and the FAA determined it was not a risk.

The ALUC is a advisory committee appointed by the seven mayors of Solano County that rules on any development near the three airports in the county. Its decisions can be challenged by the a governing board.

SMUD presented to the ALUC on Aug. 13, but Yankovich said that presentation was a short one and no ALUC commissioners commented on it.

Now the two sides are at a stalemate and Yankovich said he isn't sure what the next step is.

"They believe they can get a non-hazardous declaration. The ALUC has put SMUD on notice that they have jurisdiction," Yankovich said. "I imagine this could end up in court, but I don't know."