Fred, you raised these arguments on NextDoor. I, and many, many others commented/objected, as you've stated. What you didn't do in your well-written article is counter the list of objections with facts you may, or may not, have; with the exception of stating the size of this proposed industrial solar "farm" is closer to 3 acres instead of 5. OK, 1800 acres equates to 2.812 square miles, IF it was going to be built in a square or rectangle. The project has fingers, and is not (thankfully) proposed to be built in a square/rectangle.
There are PLENTY of open spaces (near Belen airport, for example) that are much more suitable for a project of this scale, far away from the Turquoise Trail Scenic Byway & Cibola National Forest in the Sandia Mountains.
PCR has an office in Argentina,but the company is in INDIA. India does not have a very good reputation for building, and MAINTAINING projects like this.
Why don't New Mexican Commissions open bids to AMERICAN solar companies - who have much more experience and can be REGULATED and HELD ACCOUNTABLE when something goes wrong? Yes - when, not if.
AT- Thanks for the note. I decided not to list the counter arguments to the issues raised as my point was not to argue the case one way or the other, but to present the experience. Moreover, many of the issues were directly, and in my opinion comprehensively, addressed in the various meetings. I've also written about them in Next Door.
One of the issues that hasn't been addressed adequately by PCR is the view issue. While I found their research somewhat helpful, it wasn't conclusive. I drove up Hwy 14 to the site and came away with the thinking that its way way "out there." While our house will overlook the site, I doubt the view will be blotted as its too far way (for us). I'm sure it will be closer for others.
Finally, I come back to the economics that are driving this project from the rancher's POV. I fear if this relatively harmless project is rejected, the rancher(s) will seek to monetize their property through a development like the 4,000 house Campbell Ranch project. CR will totally change the nature of the East Mountains. I think it would be way worse to have a housing development on Diamond Tails than a solar farm. All IMO. fw
Fred, thank you for your comment. The experience for most of us is horrendous. I personally have become ill from the stress created by CFC and PCR just before, and during, the holiday season, and just after a disastrous (IMHO) election.
The prospect of two major projects, that will negatively impact the East Mountain communities for decades, potentially coming to fruition has been overwhelming. Read further for relief from that stress.
PCR did not provide correct or adequate "views" of their project. In my opinion, this equates to failing to submit a complete application to Sandoval County P&Z and therefore any decision by the Sandoval County Commission should be tabled until a proper application can be filed with P&Z, and before this issue can move forward.
The other issue I have is the appropriation of the money PCR is promising to the County. The seat of Sandoval County is waaayyyyy over in Bernalillo. The people voting for or against this project don't live here! They will not be negatively impacted by the increase in the chances of wildfires, the misuse of water to rinse panels, the scar on the landscape, the poisoning of OUR groundwater, or the blight on wildlife, just to name a few objections.
Getting back to the money, where will it be spent? You can bet it won't be used to improved things out here like improvements to our volunteer/paid firehouses, new/more ambulances, brush trucks, firetrucks, equipment, training, OR a police/sheriff's station to protect the citizens who already live here. That money will go to the armory, and the land development near the casino and westward.
Regarding your "fear" of what the owner(s) of Diamond Tail Ranch, Rancho de Chavez, and others "might" do instead of this "relatively harmless project," I'm not afraid of another community Master Plan, because the truth is, even though CFC's application to subdivide was approved by Edgewood’s P&Z Commission, it still has to pass the Town Commission, and if it does, it will go back to litigation AGAIN and they will lose AGAIN, because the reality is...nothing has changed in the last 25 years except there's LESS water now than there was 25 years ago. So...there won't be approval of any new development ideas until the water situation is resolved. Short of a giant ice meteor gently landing in our desert, I don't see our decade-long drought resolving itself anytime soon.
What people aren't considering is the precedent rezoning to industrial will start. Once that ball gets rolling, you can expect things like manufacturing plants, box stores, etc., and that's far more likely than new residential development. Imagine how our quality of life and tranquility will be forever damaged by traffic, crime, litter, increased fire risk, etc.!
Very interesting. Here in Georgia, we are having major confrontations over building a police academy (in process - is happening), a medical sterilization plant that has had several incidences of unintended noxious chemical releases, and a gold rush of server farms, which creates a huge drain on the power grid. Let me know how this turns out. Gregg Power
Fred, you raised these arguments on NextDoor. I, and many, many others commented/objected, as you've stated. What you didn't do in your well-written article is counter the list of objections with facts you may, or may not, have; with the exception of stating the size of this proposed industrial solar "farm" is closer to 3 acres instead of 5. OK, 1800 acres equates to 2.812 square miles, IF it was going to be built in a square or rectangle. The project has fingers, and is not (thankfully) proposed to be built in a square/rectangle.
There are PLENTY of open spaces (near Belen airport, for example) that are much more suitable for a project of this scale, far away from the Turquoise Trail Scenic Byway & Cibola National Forest in the Sandia Mountains.
PCR has an office in Argentina,but the company is in INDIA. India does not have a very good reputation for building, and MAINTAINING projects like this.
Why don't New Mexican Commissions open bids to AMERICAN solar companies - who have much more experience and can be REGULATED and HELD ACCOUNTABLE when something goes wrong? Yes - when, not if.
AT- Thanks for the note. I decided not to list the counter arguments to the issues raised as my point was not to argue the case one way or the other, but to present the experience. Moreover, many of the issues were directly, and in my opinion comprehensively, addressed in the various meetings. I've also written about them in Next Door.
One of the issues that hasn't been addressed adequately by PCR is the view issue. While I found their research somewhat helpful, it wasn't conclusive. I drove up Hwy 14 to the site and came away with the thinking that its way way "out there." While our house will overlook the site, I doubt the view will be blotted as its too far way (for us). I'm sure it will be closer for others.
Finally, I come back to the economics that are driving this project from the rancher's POV. I fear if this relatively harmless project is rejected, the rancher(s) will seek to monetize their property through a development like the 4,000 house Campbell Ranch project. CR will totally change the nature of the East Mountains. I think it would be way worse to have a housing development on Diamond Tails than a solar farm. All IMO. fw
Fred, thank you for your comment. The experience for most of us is horrendous. I personally have become ill from the stress created by CFC and PCR just before, and during, the holiday season, and just after a disastrous (IMHO) election.
The prospect of two major projects, that will negatively impact the East Mountain communities for decades, potentially coming to fruition has been overwhelming. Read further for relief from that stress.
PCR did not provide correct or adequate "views" of their project. In my opinion, this equates to failing to submit a complete application to Sandoval County P&Z and therefore any decision by the Sandoval County Commission should be tabled until a proper application can be filed with P&Z, and before this issue can move forward.
The other issue I have is the appropriation of the money PCR is promising to the County. The seat of Sandoval County is waaayyyyy over in Bernalillo. The people voting for or against this project don't live here! They will not be negatively impacted by the increase in the chances of wildfires, the misuse of water to rinse panels, the scar on the landscape, the poisoning of OUR groundwater, or the blight on wildlife, just to name a few objections.
Getting back to the money, where will it be spent? You can bet it won't be used to improved things out here like improvements to our volunteer/paid firehouses, new/more ambulances, brush trucks, firetrucks, equipment, training, OR a police/sheriff's station to protect the citizens who already live here. That money will go to the armory, and the land development near the casino and westward.
Regarding your "fear" of what the owner(s) of Diamond Tail Ranch, Rancho de Chavez, and others "might" do instead of this "relatively harmless project," I'm not afraid of another community Master Plan, because the truth is, even though CFC's application to subdivide was approved by Edgewood’s P&Z Commission, it still has to pass the Town Commission, and if it does, it will go back to litigation AGAIN and they will lose AGAIN, because the reality is...nothing has changed in the last 25 years except there's LESS water now than there was 25 years ago. So...there won't be approval of any new development ideas until the water situation is resolved. Short of a giant ice meteor gently landing in our desert, I don't see our decade-long drought resolving itself anytime soon.
What people aren't considering is the precedent rezoning to industrial will start. Once that ball gets rolling, you can expect things like manufacturing plants, box stores, etc., and that's far more likely than new residential development. Imagine how our quality of life and tranquility will be forever damaged by traffic, crime, litter, increased fire risk, etc.!
RIGHT PROJECT, WRONG LOCATION!
All (OK, most:) are good points. fw
Very interesting. Here in Georgia, we are having major confrontations over building a police academy (in process - is happening), a medical sterilization plant that has had several incidences of unintended noxious chemical releases, and a gold rush of server farms, which creates a huge drain on the power grid. Let me know how this turns out. Gregg Power