Colin Sheppard
For the past two years, SERC has conducted a renewable energy planning study through the California Energy Commission’s Renewable Energy Secure Communities (RESCO) program (see recent RESCO post). Together with our project partners the Redwood Coast Energy Authority and the Pacific Gas & Electric Company, we’ve taken a comprehensive look at the potential for local renewable energy in Humboldt County.
Here is what we learned.
- We have the resources to supply most, if not all, of our energy needs with renewable sources.
- No single resource is sufficient on its own; we must simultaneously develop multiple resources.
- The most practical resources in order of increasing cost are energy efficiency, wind, small hydro, biomass, wave, and solar.
One thing that stands out in these conclusions is that wind power is the most cost effective of the renewable energy generation technologies. That’s of particular interest because, right now, people in Humboldt County are engaged in a debate over a proposed wind power development project on Bear River Ridge, about 5 miles south of Ferndale (see map below). ShellWind has proposed building a 50 MW wind farm on the ridge by installing 25 turbines and an associated substation.
ShellWind has been working on this project for several years and is nearing the end of the feasibility phase of the project. They have collected wind data, conducted environmental studies, including bird and bat surveys, and held public meetings. Details can be found on Humboldt County’s web site, http://co.humboldt.ca.us/planning/bear-river/default.asp.
On the plus side, the wind farm would produce enough renewable electricity to power 22,000 Humboldt County homes, and generate 10% of our countywide electricity. It would create local jobs and generate local revenues. It would directly displace the burning of natural gas at PG&E’s Humboldt Bay Power Plant. The project would increase our local energy security, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase our local air quality.
But a wind farm is a substantial civil project, requiring a large capital investment and involving industrial-scale construction activities. Naturally, people are concerned about the potential negative impacts of the project. The debate has become heated, with pro and con editorials and letters in local papers and discussions on local radio. At a recent Ferndale City Council meeting, ShellWind made a presentation and attracted an overflow crowd, with strong opinions being expressed. SERC also attended and director Peter Lehman made a presentation, “Facts About Wind Power,” at the meeting. You can find Peter’s presentation at: http://www.schatzlab.org/docs/Lehman-Facts_About_Wind_Power_2012-01-05.pdf.
The range of concern reflects the diverse composition of our community. Some are worried about the impacts of construction on local tourism and quality of life; some are concerned over the impacts to the local environment; some are bothered by the aesthetic impact of tall turbines on the scenic, coastal landscape; and some are simply opposed to a multi-national oil company doing business in Humboldt County. Adding to the general tumult, there has been some misinformation circulating about this project and wind in general. In addition to appearing on radio programs, writing editorials, and our Ferndale presentation, we’ve published a web page to address some of these topics and present relevant facts: http://www.schatzlab.org/projects/policyanalysis/wind/.
We’ve considered these facts and debated the pros and cons here at SERC. We believe the benefits outweigh the consequences so we’ve gone on record in favor of the project. Of all the renewable resources we might develop locally, wind is the easiest to accomplish at scale, as well as the most cost effective. ShellWind expects to make a profit from the sale of wind electricity—without government subsidies—and is prepared to invest $125 million to complete this project. It is hard to imagine how Humboldt County would raise funds of that magnitude otherwise.
We feel that saying no to this wind project would be missing a rare opportunity to implement the RESCO vision and put Humboldt County on a path toward a sustainable and secure energy supply. At the same time, we recognize that the concerns being raised by the local community are real and need to be addressed. We’re working with both sides—ShellWind and local citizens—to try and see this project through.
Being on the front lines of renewable energy development and being in the middle of a sometimes intense, politically charged debate has been a new and challenging experience for SERC. Our mission has always been to promote clean and renewable energy. We’re finding out what that really means.
