Planning Commission Approves Wind Farm South of Lompoc
Creation of 29 Wind Turbines Would Double Santa Barbara County’s Renewable Energy Capacity
On November 20, the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the installation of 29 wind turbines on 3,000 acres of land in the hills south of Lompoc, a project that would double Santa Barbara’s renewable energy production and provide for the electricity needs of 30 percent of the county’s households.
The hearing sought to balance the need for renewable energy production with the impacts of the project on the local ecosystem, considered by many to be both aesthetically pristine and ecologically unique. “These are the resources we have, and they’re very special. They have the right to special consideration,” said Planning Commission Chair John Parke.
A thoughtful-but-energetic public comment section saw arguments by environmentalists both for and against the project, highlighting different strains of thinking within the local environmental movement. The project moves forward as California pursues a goal of reaching 100 percent renewable energy by 2045 in order to combat the escalating threats of climate disaster.
