McEvoy Ranch Wind Turbine

ALSA Supports Green Energy for Marin Agriculture

On Tuesday, January 23, 2007, the Marin County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved installation of a 250 kilowatt (kW) wind turbine at the McEvoy olive ranch.

Supervisor Steve Kinsey noted "the importance we place on fulfilling our energy needs, and the need to support the diversity of our agriculture" as factors in his support of the project.   Kinsey also acknowledged Nan McEvoy's pioneering efforts in both organic agriculture and sustainable energy to help West Marin agriculture.

Other project supporters, including the Sierra Club, the Alliance for Local Sustainable Agriculture (ALSA) and many West Marin farmers and ranchers, argued that the project was a model for using "green energy" to power agriculture.   Speaking in support of the project alternative energy advocate Gwen Rose reminded the Supervisors that Marin imports 100% of its energy and thus exports 100% of its energy production-related pollution.   Hank Corda, of Corda Winery noted, "I understand the changes it will take to make Marin green."

Tom Williard, of Sustainergy Systems, Inverness, and manager of the McEvoy Ranch wind project, noted the approved turbine, at 148 feet tall, was 40 percent lower than the turbine originally proposed before its rejection by the Planning Commission in 2006. "We've also reduced the power it produces from750 to 250 kW," said Williard. The downsized windmill will meet only the existing electricity demand of the ranch, including powering its olive oil mill.   The original project had been designed to replace all propane on the ranch with electricity.

An analysis of the McEvoy project by County staff found no significant environmental impacts would result from the windmill's construction, and a 2006 Point Reyes Bird Observatory study concluded that "negative impacts to raptor populations are unlikely."

Contrary to popular perception, Marin does not have enough wind for commercial wind energy development. However, Community Development Director Alex Hinds noted, " ... turbines on agricultural property, if properly sited to avoid bird collisions, could add to the achievement of our sustainability goals."

The McEvoy windmill is the second agricultural wind turbine to be approved in Marin. A 50 kW windmill has been generating power at Devil's Gulch Ranch in Nicasio for over a year. Said Devil's Gulch neighbors, grass farmers, and ALSA members John and Peggy Wick, "in the future there may be an even lovelier way to generate clean, renewable energy, but for now, a wind turbine is a beautiful, inspiring and decent choice."