STRAUSS DSEIR SAMPLE LETTER
(You may copy the letter, add your name and address, paste it into an email or paper copy, and send it to the address below)
Ms. Kathy Pfeifer
Planner
Santa Barbara County Planning and Development
123 E. Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
kathypm@countyofsb.org
RE:  Strauss Wind Energy Project – Comments on Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report
Dear Ms. Pfeifer:
I am concerned about the environmental destruction that will be caused by the subject wind farm.  The applicant has designed the project solely to achieve maximum electrical output from the wind farm.  Reducing bird deaths by strategically locating the wind turbine generators (WTGs) was not even considered.  This approach contradicts the State and Federal wind energy guidelines.  Most wind farms that have been designed in the last few years in the United States have been designed to reduce avian mortality by properly locating WTGs.  Strauss should be designed that way too!
The project as proposed would destroy 607 mature oak trees.  This is unacceptable!  The County should change the project design to be more similar to the Lompoc Wind Energy Project (LWEP) that was approved 10 years ago.  The County should devise an Environment-Friendly Alternative that would move some of the generators off of ridgetops and adjust the number and type of generators to meet the project’s energy production goals.  The County should hire an expert to help with the design who has experience in designing wind projects that protect birds and produce adequate power.
The County should require the use of more of the smaller 1.79-MW wind turbine generators already proposed for use by the applicant.  Using smaller WTGs would mean smaller blades that could be transported by helicopter or airship. Then San Miguelito Road would not have to be modified, eliminating the destruction of 158 mature oak trees.
The County should change the transmission line design to that which was proposed for LWEP.  That alone would eliminate the destruction of 62 mature oak trees.  
Thanks for considering my comments.
Yours truly,
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