I-580 Altamont Pass - Wind Farms - Tracy to Livermore

Starting in the west at the Don Castro Regional Recreation Area (if you can find it!)
travel thru the western part of the Diablo Range on I-580.
Altamont Pass and its wind farms are in eastern part of the Diablo Range.
The video below starts in the east driving you from Tracy to Livermore

Speed along the I-580 past Altamont Pass wind farms
Great travel video by Tipsy from the Trip (Use the control panel for Full Screen viewing!)
I-580 thru the Diablo Mountains

Killing of raptors, bats, migratory birds is a serious issue for otherwise eco-friendly wind farms.
Altamont is one of California's 3 largest wind energy areas (see Tehachapi & Palm Springs).
Altamont wind farms lie across major migratory bird routes and have the highest kill rate.


After 30 years - turbines are being replaced by modern Giant Turbines	Even with modern turbines, Altamont continues to injure and kill birds.	This Golden Eagle has lost half of its left wing and will not survive.	Conservationists are supporting many different approaches to protect our wildlife.