By Barry Eberling | DAILY REPUBLIC | December 16, 2009
Windsmiths Anthony Perales and Mike Seaverson check the wind speed and direction sensors at the top of a wind turbine in the Shiloh II wind project near Rio Vista. Photo by Chris Jordan
FAIRFIELD - Travis Air Force Base radar coverage and Rio Vista Airport flight approach safety are among the concerns being generated by a proposal to add more wind turbines to the Montezuma Hills.
EnXco wants to build its Shiloh III project, which would construct 60 to 80 electricity-generating turbines standing up to 450 feet in height with the blade pointing up. The turbines would be on 4,600 acres and would be about a mile away from some parts of Rio Vista.
The proposed project comes at a time when the Sacramento Municipal Utility District is also trying to add up to 75 turbines in the windswept hills. About 850 turbines are already located there.
Solano County is starting an environmental impact study for Shiloh III, with a draft version possibly being released in the spring. As a first step, the county had a hearing Wednesday to gather concerns from the public that can be addressed in the report.
The Travis Air Force Base radar issue already has a high prominence. Base officials since late 2006 have said the spinning wind turbine blades can cause small civilian planes to drop off the radar. Various wind turbine companies, including EnXco, are working with Travis to try to resolve the issue.
Dick Timmons of EnXco said he expects the radar problems will be resolved by the time the environmental impact report comes out.
'We know that's a critical issue,' he said.
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