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What is the Fountain Wind Project?
The Fountain Wind Project is a wind energy generation facility proposed by Fountain Wind, LLC., on approximately 2,855 acres of private, leased land in the Montgomery Creek/Round Mountain area of Shasta County.
The Project has been rejected twice by the Shasta County Planning Commission and Shasta County Board of Supervisors. Fountain Wind is now trying to supersede local laws and authorities by seeking State approval for the project through the California Energy Commission (CEC).
This Project poses significant negative impacts to the area including:
- Impacts to cultural and Tribal resources of the Pit River Tribe and Other Tribal Nations in Shasta County.
- Elevated wildfire risks and impediment to Airial firefighting in an already fire-prone area.
- Threatens local decision making and community input for future projects across California.
- Endangerment of Wildlife.
- and more!
Destruction of
Tribal Lands
Project approval would result in the destruction of sacred Tribal and cultural lands and resources.
The Pit River Tribe, Redding Rancheria, and other neighboring tribes are strongly opposed to the Fountain Wind Project.
Wildfire Risks
48 Wind Turbines each standing at Approx. 600ft tall, would create a “No Fly Zone” for aircrafts, prohibiting CAL FIRE from using air tankers and other highly effective air-tactics when fighting fires in this High-Risk Fire Zone. Fire Insurance is already out of reach for most residents, why increase the risk?
the Project is seeking to add new transmission lines, and turbines which attract lightning, all located in CA’s highest rated fire hazard zones by both CALFIRE and CPUC.
Disregard for Local Voices
and Ordinances
The Fountain Wind Project, if approved by the CEC, would set
a dangerous precedent for similar projects across the State of California to bypass local legislators for project approval.
This transfer of authority poses a significant threat to local decision-making and community input. While the Governor’s Administration assured that the passing of AB-205 would not be used to circumvent local legislators, the opposite has proven to be true.
After being rejected by both the Shasta County Planning Commission and the Shasta’s County Board of Supervisors, Fountain Wind is now looking to supersede local laws and authorities by seeking State approval.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Threatens local Bald eagles, spotted owls, raptors and migratory birds located in this “Globally Significant Avian Area”.
Also likely to affect various mammals due to the ability to hear and use infrasound and other noise affects shadow flicker, etc.
ECONOMIC & SOCIAL IMPACTS
Drastically reduces property values for all properties that enjoy views of Shasta County’s eastern range.
Local properties near turbines may be worthless, local communities are likely to wither as people move and abandon properties and fewer people move into this currently beautiful landscape.
Any positive tax revenue from Turbines may be offset by reduced property taxes due to loss in assessed value.
CEQA Review
Website for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of the Fountain Wind Project.
Shasta County Administrative Record
Official records relating to the Shasta County Board of Supervisors’ approval of Ordinance No. SCC 2022-04, prohibiting large scale wind energy projects within the unincorporated area of Shasta County.
These documents reflect the County’s land use planning authority over large scale wind energy projects that pose a risk to the County, its residents and resources, risks that were made clear to the County during the County’s review and denial of the Fountain Wind Project in October of 2021.