City council considers wind power for city hall

It sounds like a joke, but it isn't: After Tuesday, city hall could be partially powered by the wind.

On Tuesday, the Hesperia City Council will vote on the installation of a windmill in Civic Plaza Park, behind city hall and the city's library.

Stanford Green Power is donating the 41-foot windmill, a Skystream Wind Turbine. It's similar to one installed in 2008 at Mesa Electric Company on Catalpa Street.

"But it's quieter than the ones in the past," said assistant city manager Kim Summers on Friday. "It doesn't require guide wires."

If approved, the windmill will power the park's lighting system.

No matter what happens, though, this isn't the only alternative form of energy coming to Hesperia Civic Plaza: The city's new police station and the High Desert Government Center, which have a joint groundbreaking on Monday morning, will both be partially powered by solar panels on their parking garage roofs.

"They had wanted those to be covered anyway," said Summers. "And with their flat roofs, it just makes sense."

The next regular meeting of the Hesperia City Council will take place on August 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Hesperia City Hall, 9700 Seventh Avenue.

Beau Yarbrough can be reached at 956-7108 or at beau@hesperiastar.com.