Fresh Ideas: Wind farm in sensitive area should be subject to scrutiny

"Gone with the wind" has a new meaning in Spring Valley where a farm of wind turbines is planned to pop up next year like monster mushrooms after a rain.

There is no such thing as impact-free energy. While the BP oil spill exemplifies oil gone bad, we are just beginning to learn about the drawbacks and downsides of alternative energy projects such as wind and solar, now that they are being aggressively funded. The wind farm proposed for majestic Spring Valley, 20 miles east of Ely, is on Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's "fast-track" to qualify for stimulus money before the end of 2010, and on a collision course imperiling vulnerable biological, visual, and Native American cultural resources.

The ambitious project would erect 65-80 wind turbines to generate 150 megawatts for NV Energy on Bureau of Land Management land. The forest of turbines would be visible from Great Basin National Park and Mount Moriah Wilderness. The site abuts the valley's swamp cedars, an "area of critical environmental concern." About four miles away, as the bat swoops, is Rose Guano Bat Cave, a migratory roost for over one million Brazilian (also called Mexican) free-tailed bats. According to Basin and Range Watch, the applicant's own biological report states, "the fate of this colony could be profoundly impacted."

Wind farms are becoming more controversial. The American Wind Energy Association claims wind turbines are quiet, that "an operating wind farm at a distance of 750 or 1,000 feet is no noisier than a kitchen refrigerator." But the New York Times reported this month that Caithness Energy is silencing troublemakers rather than turbines in eastern Oregon. The energy company is paying $5,000 to residents who sign a waiver agreeing not to complain about the excessive turbine noise.

BLM has released for public comment an environmental assessment and draft "Finding of No Significant Impact." Tell that to the bats.

Bottom line: if the project is necessary and legitimate, but is going to result in significant impacts, it ought to stand up to the scrutiny of a full environmental impact statement rather than a slam-dunk from BLM. Beyond that, the real question is whether we believe that sacrificing song birds, bats, sage grouse, natural views and dark skies is proper stewardship of the public land, and a fair and necessary price to pay for wind energy.

The Spring Valley Wind Project Revised Preliminary Environmental Assessment comment deadline is Aug. 18. It is available online at www.blm.gov/

nv/ or by contacting Gina Jones, BLM Ely District NEPA coordinator, at 775-289-1800.

• Abby Johnson is a resident of Carson City, and a part-time resident of Baker, Nev. She consults on community development and nuclear waste issues. Her opinions are her own and do not necessarily reflect those of her clients.