Commissioner urges land-use review to prevent turbine blade and panel dumping during repower projects

During the Dec. 16 Roosevelt County Commission meeting Commissioner Tina Dixon said a recent meeting with representatives of the San Juan Mesa repower project clarified that re-powering will not reuse existing turbine pads and raised concerns about disposal of old turbine blades and, in the future, solar panels.

Dixon cited Chaves County’s experience, where she said crews were chopping old blades in the open without containment and a cease-and-desist order had to be issued. She said she did not want Roosevelt County to become a dumping ground for wind or solar project debris and suggested the county include Soil and Water Conservation Districts in land-use planning for these projects.

County Attorney Michael Garcia responded that the land-use plan may not address turbine blade disposal and suggested reviewing the original agreements made with companies at the beginning of the project to determine whether end-of-life plans are in place. Commissioner Roy Lee Criswell echoed concerns, noting that if blade disposal is not addressed, panels could pose similar problems in the future.

No policy or contract changes were adopted at the meeting; the discussion identified a potential follow-up: review existing project agreements and consider whether land-use or contract language needs amendment to address end-of-life disposal.