Group Gathers in Desert to Address Windmill Problems

Eighteen concerned citizens gathered on Saturday, February 25, in the desert three miles east of Ocotillo; they expressed their concerns about a proposed windmill farm on Bureau of Land Management range surrounding their town.

The 12,000 acres would have between 105 and 155 windmills, averaging 450 feet high. Forty-two miles of improved roads would be established in the area between the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Interstate 8, the Jacumba Mountains, and Plaster City.

The citizens’ concerns are many, including line-of-sight pollution, closed and fenced BLM areas, and bird strikes with the spinning blades. The group plans to discuss windmill alternatives with the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Army Corps of Engineers, among others.