
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