HomeMy WebLinkAboutPristine SunMo hannam, Kathleen
From: Moghannam, Kathleen on behalf of Sweeney, Kathleen (Moghannam)
Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 5:39 PM
To: BOS
Cc: Nahn, Paul; Snellings, Tim
Subjec#: 1=W: Correspondence re: [tem 5.04 on March 26
Attachments: 3-20-13 BOS Corres Wolfe.pdf
Board members-
Attached is correspondence related to item 5.04 on the March 25 agenda -the appeal of the PC denial of UP11-0002
(Pristine Sun). This hearing scheduled for 10:30.
Kathleen Sweeney
Assistant Clerk of the Board
Butte County Administration
25 County Center Drive, Suite 200
Oroville, CA 95965
530-538-7643
Frorr~: KASweene buttecoun .net [mailto:KASweeneyCa~butter~unty.net~
Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 5:12 PM
To: Sweeney, Kathleen {Moghannam)
Subject:
Page 1 of 4
BOARD OF 3i1~ERV1~
MAR 2 D 2013
T0: Butte County Board Of Supervisors OROY~ ~~
FROM: Donna Wolfe and Genovevo Sandoval, property owners of
1048 Cox Lane
Oroville, CA. 95965 (530) 532-4569
DATE: Tuesday, March 19th, 2013
RE: Letter # 2 Opposing approval of Use Permit # UP11-0002
Pristine Sun, LLC- Buzzelle for development of Butte
Countys' largest Solar Electric Generation Plant, 500 kW,
2,016 solar modules an five acres of land with a future
expansion plan to increase to 12 acres, 1,000 kW/Substation;
'The ma~anElectric tie-in to grid located on my property
corner, two feet from my property line and eight (8) to ten (10)
feet from my familys seating area/future pool site.
Overhead chronic electric current production Distribution
lane will be eighty {80) feet from my kitchen dining room
table where we sit and ten (10) feet from closest seat (underneath)
in Family visiting outdoor seating area at N.W. Corner
of our property. (65' by 100' oudoor recreation/seating area}
See rough sketch_~cture; Seating directly under the lines/Tie-In.
We, Donna Wolfe and Geno 5andoval,oppose the approval of this
very large, heavy--duty, industrial-type electric plant out here
directly across from nuz home because:
!) The heavy duty electric equipment tie-in to the interconnect
far access to grid will be two fee from our property line and
$ - 10 e from my ~ea~rest s~ ~ on our 6,500 sq. foot family (b5' by 100')
seating - recreation outdoor fun area with future plans to install
pool. The overhead electric Distribution line will be chronical
which is approximately also 1tr
away overhead. uneccessarily exposing cur family and friends to
unwanted possibly hazardous exposure to EMF electromagnetism field.
Field exposures vary according to strength of electricity, distance
from emmissions and amount of time spent by site(PGE). Being within
150 feet of emmision site is considered to be in very close proximity
"studies have shown human exposure to EMF increases when power lines
are within close proximity (less than 150 fwet) to a residence" (Memo,
National Renewable Energy Lab, August 18, 2009) The Lab reports
EMF (electromagnetic field, measured in Gauss) overhead lines within
25 feet was 1.74- mG/95th value of 4.48 mG and EMF strengths up to
10.3 mG have been measured. The Lab's coi~c~udes adverse health effects
is based an exposure within 150 feet. Studies concerning adverse
health effects are inconclusive or contradict each other so consensus
within the scientific community is unclear as to whether or not
EMF exposure is damaging to our health! Mr. Battersby, owner of
Pristine Sun generated a pamphlet by the good Company that wrongfully
states "the current scientific consensus is that no causal relationship
exists between exposure to low level EMF and adverse health effects
aad childhood cancer. The National Radiological Protection Board
Report states r ativeiy heavy average exposure of 4 mG or
more are 5500 ed with a doubling of the risk of Leukaemia in children
Un r 1 year of age" (PGE, EMF. 2002, page 56). In 2002, ZARC,
Gam, ~~ ~~ ~ ~~S
Page 2 of ~
(continued) Board of Supervisors from D.Wolfe/G. Sandoval
The World Health Organization International Agency for Research
on Cancer, also classified power-frequency EMF as possible carcinogenic
to humans; but the evidence is not strong enough to be causal
but strong enough to be a concern (PGE). Hazardous or not hazardous,
We do not want to take any chances of being heavily exposed CHRONICALLY
especially with the threat that Pristine Sun-Buzzelle will more
than likely EXPAND to the full 12.5 acres they spent 14,000 dollars
to study. Why do we, in our really nice agriculture naturalistic
scenic area have to have an industrial electric plant out here,
especially right on our CREEKSIDE????? This does not make sense,
especially when Butte County has an industrial zone full of incentive
credits, etc??? RECOMMENDATION: Form a committee to identify
appropriate sites. Utilize environmentalist, students from the
University to do a study and work properly with Solar Companies
and the public for the best results. Cox Lane is not the proper
site, nor is probably any of the other three new~~ proposals
that will soon present before you. Just because there is a new..
law and subsidies and a political push for clean energy does not
mean it all has to be ramrodded through without full intense
examination!!!
The heavy load distribution line to the Grid will av full fronta e?!!!
PGE states in their magnetic fields outline that Distribution Lines
have 1 to 80 mG under the line. The good Company pamphlet states
a Grid interconnection can have 14 mG at 3 feet away and a power
inverter can have 344 mG at 3 feet away for a 3 Megawatt Solar Project.
As of et noone can tell me what t e of true readin ex osure
me and m famil will be facin It is very difficult to shield
the power frequency EMF and all I know is EMF Fields above 3 to 4 mG
an a 24 hour time weighted basis as with a electric production
plant could be adverse human health effect. Agencies involved
in this debate recommend we minimize exposure and take precautions!
HOW IN THE WORLD CAN MY FAMILY AND ME MINIMIZE EXPOSURE WHEN THIS
PROJECT IS BEING SHOVED DOWN OUR THROATS????? IT IS ALL ON OUOU ~0~'$~!!!~
We are in too close a proximity and will be forced to be exposed
to dangerous level above 3 - 4 mG???? Why? Then if I ever try to
sell my property, it is already stigmatized a "potential health hazard".
~Y-PROPERTY VALUE WILL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED DEVALUED~,AND INSTEAD
OF BEING KNOWN AS BEAUTIFUL COUNTYSIDE PROPERTY, IT WILL BE NOTED
TO BE OUT IN AN INDUSTRIAL ELECTRIC PLANT AREA, full of TOXIC DANGER.
My family seating area of 6,500 square feet will be unuseable and I
will cancel my plans for the pool and improvement project.
So a large portion of my property will be lost out to Mr. Battersby
and Mr. Buzzelle for their profits and once again MY LOSS.
The simulated picture that Mark Michelena presents with a nice green
screen full coverage is an unrealisticdepiction of the project site.A
Screen take years to grow to maturity, IF MAINTAINED; Standing here
in real life is way different than a simulation. It is flat out here,
fully visible, barbed wire razared above a fence is just plain ugly,
especially around five huge acres of glass panels that will be able
to be seen plain and clear for years and years till the screen maybe
grows up in our poor hardpan soil at the project site???????
Page 3 of 4
(continued) Board of Supervisors from D. Wolfe/G. Sandoval
I disagree also with Mark Michelena about the GLARE FACTQR.
The panels do have glare and it is not pleasing especially
when amassed on five to twelve acres. People from a far
will be faced with a sea of glare certain times of the day.
Mr. and Mrs. Akers and their family are truly getting the
shaft, if this project is approved. They will be faced with a
frontage full of industry glare with those panels right up in
their face This project changes the whole landscape of our
~3rimarily agriculture ranch land that is full of scenic beauty.
Please think this over carefully before approving this site for
you may be setting precedence for paving the way for the ruination
of our beautiful Butte County and her awesome countryside. I am
also pretty sure most of our expensive Ranches and ranchland grazing
lands do not want to suffer land devaluations, EMF exposure, glare,
heavy duty industrial style electric equipment and the obliteration of
their beautiful views? N0, No, please, this is not right.
But there are appropriate places to site these projects and Butte
County can please and work with Solar Corporations to everyones
advantage, if only we make a way and make it right! Thank you.
Sincerely,
~~
Donna Wolfe and Geno Sandoval
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