Help Protect Our Birds in the Altamont Pass

Burrowing Owl
Burrowing Owl behind a fence

In less than one week, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors will decide whether to approve of the Mulqueeney Ranch Wind Repowering Project despite the fact that it will unnecessarily kill large numbers of  Golden Eagles, Burrowing Owls, Swainson’s Hawks, and Tricolored Blackbirds, many of which are already severely impacted by the Altamont Pass.

On Thursday October 7, the Board will hear our appeal to overturn the recently approved environmental impact report which will allow for the construction of 24 new wind turbines in a highly sensitive habitat area for these bird species. The project will actually increase the amount of megawatts produced at the site, likely resulting in killing more Golden Eagles than were killed under the old turbines.

Audubon supports responsible development of renewable energy, but that requires that counties and wind developers make real efforts to protect birds and bats. We need your help to tell the Alameda Board of Supervisors to send this project back so it can be modified to reduce impacts to Golden Eagles and other protected species.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

1. Find your District representative (see full list below) and contact them with the following message:

“Dear ________________, as an Alameda County resident, I ask that you consider overturning the East County Board of Zoning Adjustment’s (ECBZA) approval of the Mulqueeney Ranch supplemental environmental impact report and reject the approval of the project.”

  • If you are not an Alameda County resident contact CBS@acgov.org with the following message:

“Dear ________________, as a concerned citizen, I ask that you consider overturning the East County Board of Zoning Adjustment’s (ECBZA) approval of the Mulqueeney Ranch supplemental environmental impact report and reject the approval of the project.”

    • Please feel free to use any of the additional messages listed below to support your ask.
      • The Project site is located in a highly sensitive habitat area that includes seven Golden Eagle active breeding territories, an active CESA-listed Swainson’s Hawk nest site, several CESA-listed Tricolored Blackbird nesting colonies, several Burrowing Owl habitat colonies and protected areas, and water features that attract both free-tailed and hoary bats. 
      • The current level of take of protected and sensitive species by projects at Altamont Pass is unacceptable and unsustainable.  Approval of yet another bird and bat killing project at Altamont Pass will make the situation significantly worse.
      • Failure to adequately address impacts to birds and bats at the Altamont undermines California’s goals to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2045 and conserve its biodiversity as directed by Governor Newsom.
      • The Alameda County Board of Supervisors should live up to its promises to reduce bird and bat deaths from wind energy and reject the approval of the Mulqueeney Ranch Wind Repowering Project on October 7. 

2. Participate in public comment during Oct. 7 Board Planning Meeting 

  • To provide written comment email CBS@acgov.org and include your name, agenda item #6, and your comment by 3 p.m. on Wednesday Oct. 6.
  • To raise an issue through Public input during the meeting, email CBS@acgov.org and include your name, agenda item #6 and state that your comment falls under Public Input by 3 p.m. on Wednesday Oct. 6.

3. Share this blog post with your network and spread the word! 

Golden Eagle mid-flight in Altamont Pass
Golden Eagle flying by a wind turbine in Altamont Pass by Elizabeth Winstead

List of District Representatives:

  • David Haubert (District 1): https://district1.acgov.org/ (includes the project area), @DaveHaubert
    • The First Supervisorial District includes the cities of Dublin and Livermore; most of the city of Fremont; a portion of the unincorporated community of Sunol; and most of the unincorporated area of the Livermore-Amador Valley.
  • Richard Valle (District 2): https://district2.acgov.org/ @RichardValle21
    • District Two is located in the heart of Alameda County, encompassing the communities of Hayward, Union City, Newark and portions of Fremont and Sunol.
  • Wilma Chan (District 3): https://district3.acgov.org/ , @wilmachan7 
    • The Third District includes the cities of Alameda, San Leandro, a portion of Oakland, including Chinatown, Jack London, Fruitvale, San Antonio, Melrose, and Havenscourt neighborhoods. District 3 also includes the unincorporated communities of San Lorenzo, Hayward Acres and a portion of Ashland.
  • Nate Miley, Vice-President (District 4): https://district4.acgov.org/ , @Nate_Miley
    • The Fourth Supervisorial District includes portions of the City of Oakland, the City of Pleasanton including the adjacent Unincorporated Communities of Castlewood and Happy Valley, as well as Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, El Portal Ridge, Fairmont Terrace, Fairview and Hill Crest Knolls.  Supervisor Miley was first elected to the Board of Supervisors in 2000, and was appointed Vice President of the Board of Supervisors in 2020.
  • Keith Carson, President (District 5): https://district5.acgov.org/, @Keith_Carson
    • The Fifth District includes the cities of Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont, and West Oakland, North Oakland, Rockridge, Grand Lake, and portions of the Fruitvale, Manzanita and Dimond District neighborhoods.