The association cites reasons such as sensitive natural resources, among others
By Debbie Raney
Burns Times-Herald
At a time when the economy in Harney County could use the boost that it would receive from alternative energy production, the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) has made it known that they will fight the majority of the wind power sites proposed in Harney County, especially those in the Steens Mountain area.
Brent Fenty, executive director of ONDA, presented a PowerPoint presentation to the Harney County Court last week summarizing where ONDA stands on each wind power project. The report titled “Oregon’s High Desert and Wind Energy: Opportunities and Strategies for Responsible Development,” was released for public viewing on Monday, May 11.
The report created by ONDA and five other conservation groups, uses Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis to outline where and how these groups believe large-scale wind power generation could be approached in Oregon’s high desert while still conserving sensitive wildlife habitats and important natural landscapes.
The report was created through the mapping and analysis of the areas identified by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory as having the best wind power potential. ONDA then compared this data with what they consider to be sensitive natural resources such as wilderness study areas, sage grouse leks and sensitive bat species. The report includes a narrative outlining the nature of the potential conflicts, ranking from high to low, with wind energy development.
According to Fenty, “ONDA supports renewable energy development and believes that such development can help reduce our fossil fuel consumption and help address climate change while creating sustainable economies for rural communities throughout Eastern Oregon. There is an urgent need to analyze where wind power potential is the highest and wildlife and social conflicts are the lowest. Such an analysis will ensure that projects can be developed without degradation of desert wildlands and damage to sensitive wildlife populations.”
After presenting the report at the county court meeting last week, Fenty was met with frustration from the court. Harney County Judge Steve Grasty told Fenty, “If you want credibility in this area, you have to support something, some day.” Grasty remarked that the report contained no social or economic analysis, and took no consideration into private land.
Commissioner Dan Nichols commented, “You’re fouling your own nest, and all of ours with it.”
In a press release issued May 11, Fenty said, “This report was designed to be used by multiple audiences. Local, state, and federal regulators will be able use the report to work with developers to guide how and where wind power facilities are permitted. And conservation groups and local citizens will be able use the report to prioritize areas most important for protection while also recognizing areas where environmental conflicts are least significant.”
In addition to ONDA, the report is endorsed by Audubon Society of Portland, Defenders of Wildlife, Hells Canyon Preservation Council, Oregon Chapter Sierra Club and WildEarth Guardians.
The full report is available at:
www.onda.org/protecting-wildlife-and-clean-water/Oregon%20Desert%20Wind_050809_FINAL.pdf
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May 13th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Sounds like the spotted owl all over again – how many of these tree huggers actually live in the area and would benefit from the development. My guess is they come once a year or so and then go home to their comfortable live style somewhere else where the unemployment isn’t 24%
May 14th, 2009 at 8:42 am
I read the report. Did not seem too bad to me. They are supportive of windpower- just looking to put the things in the right place. These are long term projects- so we need to take a long term view and do it right. I really do not want to look at the things myself- so not in my backyard please. Try to take into account all varibles- not just the need for some immediate dollars for a few people.
May 14th, 2009 at 8:43 am
Read the report (heck, read ONDA’s quotes in this article). ONDA isn’t opposing wind! They’re saying “here are the 6.8 million acres where we’d be happy to see windmills, here are the places we would be concerned about.”
When the 6.8 million acres of land on which ONDA ENDORSES wind power are filled up with wind turbines, then there might be a conflict.
Stop trying to demonize these guys! If anything, this is being cooperative and helpful. Something that should be welcomed.
May 14th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
I just want everyone to know that we need to look in to who supports and funds ONDA as well as these other conservation groups. It is public informaiton as most are not for profit or non profit groups. Did you know that Deschutes Brewery is a supporter of ONDA?? I guess that is the price we pay for fancy beer. I think and have voiced my opionon that it is not ok for those in other places to tell us how we should develop our resources. I guess I will be sending ONDA and a few others my bills. I wonder if they will think that is going green. Let their resources feel the pinch.
May 16th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Wind turbines are limited to where there is sufficient wind and adequate power transmission lines. That is why you see the white picket fence of twirlers from The Dalles to Tri Cities, on both side of the Gorge and River. BPA lines aplenty to hook into. Bud Tugley Landscaping could not have done a better job of making I-84 into some Californicated viewshed. And there are more to come in that area. You can see the giant cranes on the rims putting up more.
The wind turbines grind birds and bats. The Steens is a major migration route for birds in fall. And I have no idea how they move deer, antelope and sheep around. But if you want to make cheap power in Harney county, you would think that hot water underneath is a pretty good possibility. And, not such a blight on a grand landscape. Maybe a wind farm would be a good place to calve in the spring—might keep wolves at bay. Or a lambing ground. Grind the eagles before they can get to the lambs.
May 18th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
People have been trying to figure out how to make good use of the land around Burns since 1845, when my great great grandparents first came to the Oregon Territory. They had the misfortune of crossing in the months of August and September so I guess I don’t need to explain how well that went over.
Harnessing the wind and/or hot springs makes really good sense! The location is ideal and it would create good paying jobs that will provide the people in this area with a better quality of life. The money is available for new energy sources and this community needs to get behind this idea.
You rednecks have the distinct ability of getting to the heart of matters. You have a straight forward no nonsense mentality that is just what this country needs! I say make it happen.
May 19th, 2009 at 11:22 am
If you want to learn how to manage forests: ask a logger. If you want to know how to be a good steward of the land: ask a rancher or a farmer. If you want to know what is best for a community: ask the people who live their. These people are invested in the earth and know what to do to sustain it and keep it for future generations.
If you want to know how to mess things up, destroy economies, ruin lives, and do so with a self-satisfied look on your face and under the dubious facade of “going green” and “making things better”: ask a enviromentalist and his gaggle of lawyers.
May 19th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Use common sense Harney County, (specifically Burns), you are currently facing the worst unemployment rate in the United States. Remarkably, when faced with an opportunity to diversify, and strengthen your weakened economy…you turn to culture and pride. No doubt the Steens is a beatiful mountain, however, for a community soley dependent on cattle prices and small business, is pride really an option? Modernization is not a liberal issue, modernization is a socio-cultural need. If Burns, and its leaders, (i.e. Nichols, Grasty), continue to neglect reality….Burns will be lost forever. There is not an urban enviromental infiltration conspiracy in order. Don’t continue to degress…culture and pride is important, however, do not become blindly overpowered by your tradition.