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Residents urge Humboldt County to put wind projects to a public vote amid surveying concerns
Summary
Public commenters asked Humboldt County to let local voters decide on proposed wind projects and raised complaints that RWE surveyors entered private property under the guise of bird studies; county officials said they would check election rules and follow up on survey activity.
Residents urged Humboldt County officials during public comment to let local voters decide whether to allow proposed wind projects, suggesting a ballot measure at either a special election or the primary in June. A resident who introduced the proposal said absentee landowners who have leased land to developers should not make the decision for those who live in the county and urged supervisors to “let the people decide.”
Another resident alleged that representatives of RWE had been surveying private property for bird migration studies without farmers’ permission. The commenter said farmers told county staff they had not consented to land access and that miscommunication with landlords had left tenants uninformed. The commenter urged county oversight and clearer notice to affected landowners.
Board members and staff responded that they would check the statutes and election rules about placing a local question on the ballot and whether it could be timed for the primary. One supervisor advised staff to contact the state for guidance on the timeline; another said the county would follow up on reports of surveying on private property and clarify lease and consent procedures.
No formal motion or policy change was taken during the public-comment period; the board recorded the concerns and said it would investigate legal and procedural options and report back.
