[pct-l] Wind farms crossing PCT at Cameron Canyon and Kelso Valley near Tehachapi, CA.

[Gary Wright]

I always struggle when these political issues come up on this list.  I don't
want to use this list for political debate (even though I enjoy that sort of thing)
but I have to politely disagree with the catastrophic warming
scenario described below.  That CO2 chart provides a misleading historical
picture. Go back farther in history and CO2 levels were much higher
than today and the world was full of life. There is also evidence that
CO2 concentrations are trailing indicators of temperature change and
not leading indicators. We also have the inconvenient truth that there
is little evidence of global warming over the last decade contrary to all
the catastrophic warming models and alarmist rhetoric:

<http://stevengoddard.wordpress.com/2011/06/18/giss-shows-no-warming-over-the-last-decade/>

The issue of development of any kind around the trail is something to be
concerned about and worthy of debate but arguments based on global warming
need to be approached a bit more skeptically, IMHO.

Radar


On Jan 10, 2012, at 11:48 AM, treerings at gmail.com wrote:

> I disagree.
> 
> Would you rather have a coal-burning power plant on the trail? or even
> within 30 miles of the trail? This is a classic NIMBY (not in my backyard)
> situation. Take a look at the latest atmospheric carbon dioxide levels:
> http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/. Now take a look at the
> atmospheric carbon dioxide levels over the last 800,000 years:
> http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/cmb/images/indicators/800k-year-co2-concentration.gif.
> These are reconstructed from ice cores. Not only is atmospheric carbon
> dioxide WAY above anything seen in the last 1 million years, the projected
> increase if we continue on a business as usual path is staggering. We NEED
> carbon-free energy such as wind to address this problem.
> 
> Measured temperature is increasing fast as a result of this greenhouse gas
> carbon dioxide increase:
> http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=48574&src=imgrss.
> 
> Most of the old foxtail and lodgepole pine forests we see on the higher
> portions of the JMT will be the last generation. Earth's temperature is
> warming fast and they will be replaced by low-elevation species. Pika,
> marmot and the like will have a tough time of it as suitable habitat
> migrates upslope.
> 
> We enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world thanks to
> cheap oil looted from indigenous people's land in Peru, Ecuador, and
> Mexico for a long time (thank you Chevron, thank you Texaco). We export
> the environmental "pain" so we can have a "pristine" experience. It's a
> little hypocritical when you think about it. There's a LINK between
> lifestyle and the environment. A wind farm is infinitely more
> environmentally and aesthetically benign than an petroleum extraction
> operation. There's simply no comparison.
> 
> I don't like wind turbines on the the trail either, or solar farms in
> desert tortoise habitat. Wind turbines kill far more bats than birds,
> something like a 40:1 ratio. These problems are minuscule compared to the
> alternative of a destabilizing climate system.
> 
> Treerings
> 
> 
> 
> On Mon, Jan 9, 2012 at 3:47 PM, Penny Melko <pmelko at ximatek.com> wrote:
> 
>> Hello fellow hikers,
>> 
>> This is my first posting to the group. I hope this is appropriate to
>> broadcast because the topic is critical to hikers.
>> 
>> Those of us living near Tehachapi are experiencing the total destruction of
>> the mountain ranges that traverse the Pacific Crest Trail by wind turbines.
>> Two wind turbine projects were approved 2 weeks ago where turbines will
>> cross the trail south of the 58 freeway.  The 3rd place is near Jawbone
>> Canyon and Kelso Valley where 116 turbines were approved within 1 1/2 miles
>> of the trail. More wind projects are planned or approved!
>> 
>> Is it possible for hikers to have their cameras and a gps system at hand to
>> photograph raptors like red tail hawks, Bald and Golden eagles and
>> California Condors on the trails? The encounters should be reported to
>> Ventura Fish and Game (see info below). Condors are tagged and have
>> transmitters that capture the location of the birds every hour. The photos,
>> and or the tag number with the coordinates can be verified by the agency.
>> Zero "takes" of endangered species are not approved by the federal
>> permitting agency. This may be the only legal way to stop the decimation of
>> the trail and habitats.
>> 
>> Dave Hacker, Staff Environmental Scientist. Region 4 Renewable Energy
>> Projects. California Department of Fish and Game, 3196 South Higuera St.,
>> Suite A. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, 805.594.6152, dhacker at dfg.ca.gov
>> 
>> The hikers would be the most logical people to spot the birds. I have
>> personally seen 2 Calif condors in Pine Canyon and 2 hikers saw a Bald
>> eagle
>> so we know they live and forage along the trail.
>> 
>> I am a resident of Sand Canyon, which is located one exit west Cameron
>> Canyon at the 58 freeway. I'll be happy to provide any information you
>> require. We have been fighting the wind farms in every community here for 2
>> years and every bit of supporting data is critical.
>> 
>> Sent By: Penny Melko, pmelko at ximatek.com
>> 
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