BOULEVARD PLANNERS OPPOSE TORREY WIND PROPOSAL FOR TURBINES TALLER THAN DOWNTOWN SKYSCRAPERS PROPOSED IN RURAL COMMUNITY
By Miriam Raftery
Photos: Brush fire sparked by exploding wind turbine in Campo in 2013. Proposed new turbines would dwarf these older, smaller models.
July 26, 2018 (Boulevard) – The Boulevard Community Planning Group has sent a 26-page letter to the County opposing Terra-Gen’s proposed Torrey Wind project. If approved, the project would erect 30 wind turbines each 586 feet tall—that’s 90 feet higher than the tallest skyscraper in downtown San Diego—on 2,,000 acres of absentee-owned ranchland formerly known as Big Country Ranch property at the north end of Ribbonwood Road.
The proposed major use permit for Torrey Wind (formerly known as San Diego Wind) will be on the Boulevard Planning Group’s agenda at its August 2nd meeting at 7 p.m. (View agenda)
At the July 12th meeting of the planning group, when asked if anyone supported the project, no one raised their hand. Planners and community members have previously raised objections over several other wind projects built and in the pipeline, citing the cumulative impacts on wildlife habitat, public health and safety, and quality of life. Fire is also a big concern, since a wind turbine at the Kumeyaay Wind Farm burst into flames in 2013, sparking a brush fire that threatened a nearby home and led the Campo tribe to cancel its proposed Shu’luuk Wind project.
The turbines proposed by Torrey Wind would be 4.2 megwatts, far larger than even the massive wind turbines now operating at Tule Wind. Near existing wind projects, residents have complained of infrasound impacts on health as well as noise, flashing lights, distracting blade flicker and visual blight.
An environmental impact report should consider the cumulative effects of multiple projects on the region, according to Donna Tisdale, chair of the Boulevard Planning Group.
Thus far, County Supervisors have essentially ignored serious concerns raised by Boulevard residents, approving massive wind and solar projects in the rural community over serious objections and documentation of risks provided by residents.
If you would like to submit comments in this project, you can contact the project manager at Brownwyn.brown@sdcounty.ca.gov or call 858-495-5516.