ALAMEDA IMPLEMENTS NEW FIRE SAFETY GUIDELINES
Costly new fire safety guidelines have been adopted in Alameda County. Wind operators must now avoid doing certain maintenance during high fire danger weather conditions; they must clear the dry grass around each turbine; they must submit plans to the fire departments for review; they must use higher construction standards and materials when adding new equipment; and they must train all employees in fire prevention and the use of safety equipment. The operators have also agreed to pay the costs of mapping roads in the Altamont Pass, which contains some 7000 wind turbines, and to create a water supply system.