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Table Mountain Wind Generating Facility. Goodsprings Field Office October 30 th 2009. Original Proposal. 250 “Small” (250ft tall) wind towers Total height including blades approx. 350ft Associated Facilities Transmission Lines Substation Maintenance facility Roads
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Table Mountain Wind Generating Facility Goodsprings Field Office October 30th 2009
Original Proposal • 250 “Small” (250ft tall) wind towers • Total height including blades approx. 350ft • Associated Facilities • Transmission Lines • Substation • Maintenance facility • Roads • Man-camp (Construction Phase – 2yrs) • Within both VRM II & III • Approved Off Color – Not reflective white
Revised Proposal • 88 “Large” (410ft tall) Wind towers • Total height approx. 600ft including blades • Reduced footprint within the same proposal area. • Same associated facilities • Additional road widening to accommodate transport of larger towers • All towers located within VRM Class III • Color – FAA Approved Reflective White
Critical Issues • Cultural Resources • National Historical Trail • Historic Mining District • Various undisclosed Native American Interests • Biological Resources • Desert Tortoise • Migratory Bird Corridor • Bighorn Sheep • Recreation • Public Access to Tabletop Mountain • VRM
VRM – Key Observation Point • Town of Goodsprings, NV • Population 230 People • Limited facilities/tourist infrastructure • Important Cultural Resources • Views of project area limited by foreground topography • Visible stumbling resident /visitor was drunk with blurred vision • Angle of observation below project area
Key Observation Point Southern Vista Western Vista
Visual Contrast Rating • Characteristic Landscape • Steep faced escarpment trailing to lower elevations; dominate horizontal and diagonal lines; grey with hues of brown/tan/buff; smooth texture with minor undulations • Vegetation nondescript from KOP; grey/greens hues on the landscape • Structures – Met. Tower – week vertical line, non-describe color or text at viewing distance
Visual Contrast Rating • Proposed Action • No Degree of Contrast with Land Form and Vegetation anticipated • Degree of Contrast with Structural Elements • Form: Strong • Line: Strong • Color: Moderate • Texture: Moderate • Project does not meet VRM Class III
Suggested Design Features In order to meet VRM Class III the elements of Form and Line in the structures needs modification: • Location • Move 6 towers back off ridge line that are visible from KOP. • Relocated project or eliminate the 6 most eastern towers from the project. • Utilize smaller towers to replace the 6 within view • Color – Potentially using white/grey to reduce strength of line and form contrast • Simulations to verify by Proponent
Suggested Design Features Beyond the KOP the following design modifications are suggested: • Relocate the substation, transmission lines and associated facilities from the VRM Class II area or conceal behind topography if possible • Potentially color associated facility structures to blend within the landscape • Install experimental FAA Radar (OCAS) to eliminate need for continuous lighting and need for white reflective color
Conclusion • Modified proposal caused confusion but eliminated project from VRM II • Many issues beyond VRM present in the Landscape