Broken promises: Ocotillo wind project approved despite outcry from tribes, environmentalists

[Liberty Belle]

This is a heartbreaking situation, devastating to local Native American tribes:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101626295

Please help this thread get some attention here on DU. I find it deeply disappointing that Pres. Obama has not had the decency to meet with these tribal leaders or answer their letter over their grave concerns about the irreversible destruction about to take place due to the Interior Dept. fast-tracking approval of these big energy projects no matter what laws they have to break to do so.

[The Wielding Truth]

1. Can't the turbines be placed sensitively so they do not sit on holy and historical ground?

[Liberty Belle]

2. According to all the tribes, no.

Tribes use this site to this day for sacred gatherings. They would not have that access. There are many, many things about this site -- major geoglyphs (very large ones), burial sites, several thousand stone-tool making pieces, entirely intact artifacts and a lot more. The turbines are 450 feet tall and wingspans the size of jetliners. Would you want to sit and meditate underneath those? Anyplace else they could put the turbines would just make something else worse. There are rocky mountainous areas up against the site that are protected bighorn sheep habitat, and homes already just half a mile away, too close for safety, some surrounded on three sides by turbines if this gets built. They take their children here and teach them the ancient ways. They do dreamquests out there on this site, important rituals in their culture.

Of the 3 main geoglyphs they would be left with a sliver of a view of just one. Pattern's idea of mitigation is donating money to a museum and for scholarships. The Indians don't want money. They want their rights and religious respected.

The tribes also consider views of the sacred mountains (this is the site they consider the origin of their creation) and don't want to lose that either. Viejas is not an unreasonable tribe. They sued a water district to stop desecration of graves, but settled with the district when the district agreed to mitigation - the tribe said all along that at that site, going around was an option. But not here.

All the tribes say there is no possible mitigation. If the project is built, their heritage is lost.

[The Wielding Truth]

4. Their concerns should not be ignored. There should be an alternative.

[newfie11]

3. So come out here to western Nebraska

and build the turbines. For petes sake leave the Tribe alone. Must we destroy everything for progress??????

[jmtcw]

5. Fast Tracked for a few jobs...at a big price

The Obama admin might have good motives (jump start renewables), but this project and the Genesis Solar project near Blythe show the downside to Fast Tracking these massive, industrial-scale developments. In this case, literally hundreds of documented Native American cultural resources, ceremonial and religious sites, and more, will be destroyed. And for what -- 20 jobs. That's what the developer says will be created -- 20 permanent jobs (but they'll only guarantee 1 local hire). You could generate many more permanent jobs by spending the tax dollars on a solar rooftop initiative in this desert area! And the Imperial County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of the project even after being told by Pattern Energy that they only just recently completed a draft Seismic Report and it hasn't been fully evaluated. If you know this region and how quake-prone it is, you'd realize how crazy that is -- to approve it before a fully-vetted Seismic Report is completed!!?? That'll come back to haunt the Supervisors if another 7.2 quake hits that area... or maybe lager, since this is on (or at least very, very near) the Elsinore Fault.