Purposed changes to Cliffside

I have some unfortunate news here.
 I'm equally effected by these events,  and still feeling somewhat devastated by all of this unfolding.
On Tuesday Dec. 18th Daniel Randall made me aware of National Grid Ventures and Rye Development's plans to build a closed loop hydroelectric pump storage system from the base of Cliffside to the upper ridge.

 I immediately went into to action studying and getting on the phone setting up a face to face meeting with Rye development and trying to get people in place that are better suited to dealing with these matters than myself. Just prior to the meeting I spoke with Maui Meyer as he was present at the first public presentation of the proposal to get a feeling of the tone of people involved.
On Thursday Dec. 20th the initial meeting took place between myself and RD's Vice President Mr. Steimle
The meeting went very well.
My biggest concerns of a huge piping system, high power tension lines and a gigantic Terraforming of the ridge running down the face of the hill. Most of these fears were put at ease.
As the bulk of the project will be subterranean underground to almost a mile at one point.
The greatest changes to the surface will be two huge ponds okay more like small lakes one will not effect us at all being well behind the upper ridge.
The second however runs from directly under launch just south of E-14 and extend south towards the railroad tracks and east half way through the old aluminum plant sludge pond that is currently filled in. Both these ponds will be covered by " shade balls " to cut down on evaporation and to keep birds out. Both ponds will also be surrounded by a high fence to keep out people and wildlife. In addition to this there will be a control tower ( station ) at the east end of the pond near the west end of where the old aluminum plant was.
There will be some new power lines down there running about 150ft above the ground.
The lower field we currently use as a landing field will be used for equipment staging and temporary housing. As this project is boasting some 2 billion dollars and 3100 jobs over a ten year period of construction. and over 300 jobs for the on going operations of the plant come 2028.
NSC Smelter is under pressure to clean up the old aluminum plant area to be sold for industrial use, as is the large field area we currently use for an LZ where they will be using during the construction phases of this project.

 

The big obvious question a lot of you may have is, why here ? That is simple it is already perfectly set up for them to do this easily. The electrical system and routing is already in place and the huge vertical ridge is right there and with all the windmills its already a green energy showcase.

To add to all this it was easy for them to acquire the property needed. 

 I have discussed and explained our normal flight paths and landing needs. I have presentation boards ready for our next meeting.

I'm trying to secure 2 acres on the south side of E-14 and 2 acres in the lower field. The river landings will be unaffected.

 

 

Please know that bombarding these companies with all your concerns and demands will not work out well for us. We are in good standing now and have opened up a good line of communication.
I, like a lot of you, don't like change. Especially a change like this.
We are all adult enough to know the best intentions can result in undesirable results.
Know that there are people in place working on this situation as it develops.
 I will keep you all posted here on future public meetings.
 As this and future projects look as of right now purchasing landing zone property would be unwise at this point. Future plans for industrial building in the lower landing zone could create a rotor field, and plant operations on the extreme side could close use to the side of the road bail out landing zone if we were in some way irresponsible flying over and around the lower pump storage pond and or control tower / station.
We can all hope this ends at the proposal stage but sadly that is unlikely.
I feel our best course of action is being good neighbors.

Any questions please feel free to contact me directly.
Thanks Kelly Kellar at
1(503)464-6140
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Here is the follow up response from Rye Development.

Kelly,

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me and discuss the proposed Goldendale Energy Storage Project.  It was good to get a detailed understanding of where you and fellow paragliders takeoff and land in this area of the county, as well as understand that the project as we are proposing will not interfere with flights in the area.  As requested I have attached a number of high quality renderings of the project including the ones we looked at today.
  I will keep you posted on the timing of our upcoming public meeting in Goldendale.

Sincerely,
Rye Development Vice President
Erik Steimle