Opponents of controversial wind farm project speak out at Shasta supervisors meeting

Opponents of a controversial wind farm energy project that was recently revived thanks to a new state law vented their frustrations to Shasta County supervisors earlier this week.

They are upset that the county hasn’t been more vocal publicly in its opposition to Fountain Wind, a 205-megawatt, 48-turbine wind farm proposed for eastern Shasta County — the same project supervisors rejected 4-1 in October 2021.

“As of today, I have not seen anything from Shasta County documented with the CEC (California Energy Commission),” Shasta County Planning Commissioner Steve Kerns told supervisors on Tuesday. “I want to encourage you today to get a complete record of the decision-making process … to show them everything that was done in the county,” Kerns said, including why the project was voted down.

The planning commission also rejected the project, four months before supervisors, who in turning the project down denied an appeal by the developer.

But the state could overrule the county and approve the project under AB 205, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed on June 30, 2022. The law authorizes the CEC to establish a new certification program for eligible non-fossil-fuel power plants of 50 megawatts or more and related facilities.

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Prior to AB 205, the CEC’s power plant licensing jurisdiction was limited to thermal power plants of 50 megawatts or larger.

ConnectGen, under the name Fountain Wind LLC, applied to the state for the wind farm under the opt-in provision established under Assembly Bill 205. The project is proposed for the same site south of Highway 299 in the Round Mountain-Montgomery Creek area.

Fountain Wind is the first project to take advantage of the new opt-in provision for non-fossil-fuel facilities.

“Why hasn’t the county responded to the affront from ConnectGen and the state,” Joseph Oso asked supervisors. “Please take some sort of action now before it requires a Herculean effort to stop it,” he added.

That prompted Supervisor Patrick Jones, who chairs the board, to ask County Counsel James Ross if supervisors should send a letter of opposition to the state.

Supervisor Mary Rickert, whose district includes the project site, said she has been working with the county to come up with a strategy to fight the wind farm.

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“It sounds like the other side has a head start,” Supervisor Chris Kelstrom said.

Rickert countered that is not what has happened.

Ross recommended that Jones and Rickert meet with county counsel and Paul Hellman, the county’s top planner, to talk about where they are in the process.

Meanwhile, CEC officials said the county has been involved in the process.

“I can confirm that the planning department has been involved in the number of pre-meetings that have been held by our staff with the project developer,” CEC spokeswoman Lindsay Buckley said.

But at this point, the CEC doesn’t have an application to rule on.

“The application has still not been deemed complete and the project developer is still working to provide a number of different materials that our staff’s request in order to complete the application,” Buckley said.

Once the application is complete, the state will have 270 days to make a decision.

A public meeting will be held within 30 days after the application is deemed complete, while a public meeting on the draft environmental impact report will be held within 190 days of the completion of the application, the CEC has said.

There was also some concern from opponents at Tuesday's supervisors meeting about visits to the project site that have taken place without county officials being invited.

"I can confirm our staff and leadership did participate in a site visit. This was the invitation of the project developer. This was not something that was organized by the state," Buckley said.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Opponents of wind farm project speak out at Shasta supervisors meeting