“I think there are endless opportunities for tribes in renewable energy.”


—former Chairman William Anderson, Moapa Band of Paiutes


The Kumeyaay Wind Farm on the on the Campo Kumeyaay Nation in southern California (top left, being maintained) provides power to more than 30,000 homes.


Today the 25 turbines on the Kumeyaay Wind Farm pro-


vide power to more than 30,000 homes on tribal lands and in San Diego County, offsetting approximately 110,000 tons of greenhouse gases a year that would have been produced by coal-powered plants. The tribe is considering building 60 more. Yet the turbines are more than 580-feet tall and some local residents near and within the Campo Kumeyaay Nation are concerned about the obstructed desert views or the poten- tial of the spinning turbines to block the paths of migratory birds. According to a 2017 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report, anywhere from 140,000 to 327,000 migratory birds are estimated to be killed by land-based wind turbines as compared to about 365 million to 988 million killed each year by flying into glass in buildings. Cuero said he and his tribe are practicing due diligence to operate the wind farm with the safest methods possible to protect wildlife. The project is still under review. Yet even though some people object to adding more tur-


bines, Cuero said he sees hope in the eyes of his children when he talks to them about the wind farm. “They’re proud of this project because we’re trying to stop climate change. It’s some- thing that the younger generation really gets behind. They see it as us making a positive change, not just in our community, but outside the community.”


28 SPRING 2022 AMERICAN INDIAN


SANDY HUFFAKER (2)


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