Someone I know in Shasta County sent this to me last night.
Wind farm lawsuit must move out of Shasta County due to 'local hostility': California AG -
https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2024/04/24/why-california-attorney-general-wants-fountain-wind-lawsuit-moved-out-of-shasta-county/73426109007/Arguing that the California Energy Commission can't get a fair hearing in Shasta County because of presumed local "prejudice" against the state agency, the California Attorney General's Office wants to transfer out of the county a lawsuit filed over the controversial Fountain Wind Project.
The AG's office filed the request after the county sued the energy commission in Shasta County Superior Court in November, claiming it did not have the authority to consider for approval the proposed 4,500-acre project some 35 miles east of Redding. . .
Goldman's request to move the case outside the county notes the proposed project met with significant opposition from residents and was rejected by the county Board of Supervisors. . .
After the county rejected the project, the California Legislature in 2022 approved AB 205 which allows the commission to consider approving the project. That means the state could overrule Shasta County's decision and approve the Fountain Wind project.
Texas-based ConnectGen wants to build up to 48 wind turbines on 4,500 acres in the Montgomery Creek-Round Mountain area, about 35 miles east of Redding. According to the company's website, the turbines would have the capacity to generate about 200 megawatts, enough to power about 80,000 homes. . .
In denying the project, county officials said the wind turbines would create a wildfire risk and harm cultural and tribal resources, tourism, the watershed, and mental and physical health.
The county has filed arguments with the court against the AG's office's request to move the case out of the county. . .
"Finally, the CEC (commission) blithely assumes that the community in Shasta County and the tribe will not suffer any prejudice if the case is transferred outside Shasta County, which is wrong both factually and ethically," the argument says.
The county's attorney also proposed that rather than move the case outside the county, the court appoint a judge from outside Shasta County to hear the case at the courthouse in Redding.
A hearing on the issue is set for 9 a.m. Monday before Superior Court Judge Stephen Baker.
They evidently oppose the will of the State and, thus, they are 'prejudice' and unqualified to have one of 'their own' make such a decision. Never mind that they propose bringing in an outside judge; i.e., the idea that they want the decision to be publicly transparent. Never mind that such a 'wind farm' would be a 'blight' (according to my friend) on the area in terms of things Shasta County relies on, be it tourism, fishing, etc. Never mind that, as Pete Wilson described it, the area is part of 'the wilderness of California' and, therefore, no one (ahem) will see it, not to mention it's something the State desires.
I looked it up. If the 'wind farm' will potentially produce
enough to power about 80,000 homes and, as of 2022, there were 80,095 housing units in Shasta County (
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/shastacountycalifornia/AFN120217 ), let's say I'm a bit suspicious the State intends that power for Shasta Country usage. In short, it seems to speak to a 'colonial' mindset in relation to how Sacramento views that part of the State. Could there be reasons why, last year, Shasta County declared itself a '2nd Amendment Sanctuary?' Could there be some legitimacy to their perception that the State is simply ignoring them while doing what they will with the area?
Anyone up there have any insights?
