Commissioners hear from angry foe of wind farms

Some downright vituperative comment on the proposed Antelope Ridge Wind Farm highlighted a meeting of the Union County Board of Commissioners last Tuesday.

Telocaset resident Rod Swanson, long disgruntled over the presence of Elkhorn Valley Wind Farm turbines near his home, unleashed a loud, obscenity-laced tirade at the three-member board.

“OH, b -------t!” Swanson cried at one point, prompting board Chairman Mark Davidson to warn Swanson that if he didn’t cool the language, he would have to leave.

In April 2008, Swanson and his wife, Fay Stein-Swanson, unsuccessfully appealed the conditional use permit granted Horizon Wind Energy in March 2007 for the Elkhorn Valley Wind Farm at Telocaset.

The Elkhorn facility was formally dedicated in August 2007. Among many other complaints, the Swansons claimed the wind turbines were making Fay Swanson ill.

Rod Swanson repeated the claim during the Tuesday meeting, saying his wife suffers from “wind tower syndrome.”

“She’s got every symptom, right down the line,” he said.

Horizon has proposed building a second facility, the 300-megawatt wind Antelope Ridge Wind Farm, in the Craig Mountain area near Union. Swanson stated vehement opposition to construction of Antelope Ridge.

“I too am against it for the simple fact we’re going to be surrounded even more,” he said.

He also demanded that the county not enter into a Strategic Investment Program agreement with Horizon, and berated Commissioner Steve McClure for voting in favor of the Elkhorn SIP.

Union County rancher Tom Price and North Powder resident Curtis Martin also offered comments in opposition of the wind farm proposal.

Steve Donnell of La Grande also spoke, saying the county should proceed cautiously on wind farm issues, and, during the state’s review process, raise issues of local concern.

Also during the meeting, Mary McCracken, appearing on behalf of a group called the Friends of the Trails Unit, asked the county board to show support and promote the purchase of trees in the Mount Emily Recreation Area’s Trails unit.

McCracken also raised a question about trees she says were re-marked after Commissioner Nellie Hibbert paid a visit to the home of a MERA advisory committee member.

On the Trails Unit buyback proposal, McCracken asked the board to sign a copy of a Trails Unit criteria, goals and objectives that includes an added provision.

She said Friends of the Trails Unit wants to raise funds to buy the trees before owner Forest Capital harvests them later this year.

McCracken said her group wants criteria added stating tree stands will be managed according to principles described in a 1999 U.S. Forest Service implentation plan, called the Powell plan.

“This wording will greatly influence our ability to raise money to buy trees in the county,” McCracken said.

She said that in a meeting with Jim McIver and David Komlosi, the board agreed to add the provision.

Earlier this year, another group, Local Interest, asked the county board to support purchase of the Trails Unit Timber.

That group asked that the unit be managed according to a plan formulated by Eastern Oregon University Biology Professor Karen Antell and others interested local citizens.

Instead, the board formulated a list of goals and objectives that supported the Antell plan in concept but not in detail.

The board also said the county would maintain control of timber management in the Mount Emily Recreation Area.

Forest Capital’s deadline for offers on the timber expired and the purchase plan was abandoned.

The Friends of the Trails Unit now wants to try and make the purchase, despite the lapsed deadline. They also ask that local Realtor John Collins be tasked with sale negotiations.

During the Tuesday meeting, Davidson told McCracken  the board said only that it would consider adding the new criteria. It would depend, he said, on how Forest Capital wants to proceed.

“We said we would consider it, but first we would need a response from Forest Capital. They said they weren’t interested,” Davidson said.

In a related matter, McCracken said trees near the property of Christine Kirk and Lloyd Mason at the end of Igo Lane were re-marked by Forest Capital following a visit to the home by Commissioner Hibbert.

“That makes them remarkable trees,” McCracken said. “Would you please tell what was behind that action? Many other county citizens would like to be given the same opportunity as Lloyd was given as a member of the management team.”

Mason is a member of the MERA non-motorized management committee.

Hibbert said she visited the home at the couple’s request, and did not have any outside communication with Forest Capital.

Davidson said the county has no control over Forest Capital’s harvest plans.

“We don’t own any of those trees. As you know, when the harvest is done they will quit claim. We don’t have any input into the harvest plan,” he said.