2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session 2013 special election arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration international internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology television terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

On behalf of ONDA, I want to thank OPB for providing this forum for open discussion of alternative energy solutions in our state.

ONDA hopes to work with all stakeholders to ensure that wind energy development is done in an effective and responsible way.  To this end ONDA collaborated with five other conservation groups to author a wind report titled “Oregon’s High Desert Wind Energy: Opportunities and Strategies for Responsible Development” which addresses many issues surrounding wind development in Oregon’s high desert.

Using GIS analysis the report has determined that approximately 6.8 million acres of land in the study area has low to moderate potential for environmental or social conflict. Of this 467,000 acres have been identified has having high wind resources.  As Mr. Crowley mentioned, these regions are largely public lands, thus we feel the public must be involved with every step of the process.

ONDA also feels it's important to note that there are over two dozen proposed wind development projects in Southeast Oregon-outside of the Steens-that would fulfill the need for wind energy in the winter months (Dec-Mar).

 Wind energy promises to play a significant role in providing clean energy and strong job creation in areas that need it most but it must not be done in a way that fails to recognize and address its true costs.

 The full wind report can be read here: http://www.onda.org/enforcing-conservation-laws/issue-areaz/windreport

Thank you

posted 3 years, 9 months ago
view in context