Residents urge Humboldt County to put proposed wind-turbine rules to a ballot vote, allege developer surveying on private land
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Summary
Several residents urged supervisors to put wind-turbine decisions on a local ballot and alleged that RWE surveyors were on private property conducting bird counts; speakers referenced Emmet County setback proposals and expressed distrust of state-driven rules.
During the public-comment period, multiple residents urged Humboldt County supervisors to consider letting voters decide whether to allow proposed wind turbines. A frequent commenter suggested placing the question on the ballot rather than leaving it to board or county attorney decisions: "Let's put this on the ballot. Let's take it off of you guys... Let the people that live here decide," the commenter said.
Speakers raised concerns about developer practices and cited instances of surveyors on private land. One resident alleged RWE surveyors were conducting bird-migration studies on private property without signed leases and said landowners were confused about who had given permission. "They're in private property, which they should not be in," a commenter said, urging the county to look into those reports.
Commenters also compared setback distances in other counties (one speaker referenced Emmet County proposals of about 2,900 feet), discussed rooftop solar concerns and criticized state rulemakers they described as lacking local knowledge. Supervisors said they would check the rules and consider the legal and timing limitations for placing items on a primary or special ballot.