LOMPOC, Calif. - The plan to bring 65 wind-turbines to the Miguelito Canyon area in Lompoc nearly 4 years ago is at a standstill. Plans to get the project going again haven't been productive, but it's very much still on the drawing board. And Lompoc city leaders are eager to see some real progress that could bring jobs to their local economy.
Lompoc Mayor John Linn says "there has been an awful lot of time and money been spent on it. And we spend a lot of time in this country talking about clean energy."
The Lompoc Mayor echoes the thoughts of many regarding the project that would bring 65 wind turbines to Miguelito Canyon in Lompoc.
"We look at it as another economic development opportunity. There will be a lot of folks here during construction. And then there will be some permanent employment to maintain the turbines."
A Santa Barbara County energy specialist said over the phone that the project is sitting idle as the energy company in charge re-evaluates their plans. Acciona Energy met with the county a couple months ago and remains optimistic about moving forward but the current economic environment has forced them to hit the pause button. And it's forced the city of Lompoc to continue waiting.
"It would be nice to move forward, or not move forward but standing in neutral isn't very productive", says Linn.
Regarding Acciona energy, the company's county permit expires in early 2013. They are in the process of getting a permit extension from the county based on the argument that the economic environment hasn't been favorable for their project.@
