Lancaster — Jeff Olesh, left, a retired mechanic and an environmental advocate who owns property in the community of Portal Ridge, and Vern Biehl, a wilderness ranger who lives in Kings Canyon, one of the communities directly affected by plans for wind turbines, stand at a high point on Portal Ridge where nearly 500-foot-tall wind-powered generating towers would be built.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=35431

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Lancaster — California poppies on Portal Ridge, where nearly 500- foot-tall wind turbines would be built.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=35432

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Lancaster — Vern Biehl, a forest service wilderness ranger, opens a gate on Portal Ridge, where the nearly 500-foot-tall turbines would be built.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=35433

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Lancaster — A yucca plant on Portal Ridge. Critics fear that green-energy projects planned in the Antelope Valley would be detrimental to the environment.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=35434

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Lancaster — Susan Zahnter, vice president of the Three Points-Liebre Mountain Town Council, and Jeff Olesh take in the view where nearly 500-foot-tall wind turbines would be build.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=35435

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Lancaster — A view overlooking Elizabeth Lake from the south slope of Portal Ridge. Antelope Valley residents worry that a planned industrial-scale wind farm would ruin the area's vistas.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=35436

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Lancaster — A view to the Tehachapi Mountains to the north across the Antelope Valley floor from Portal Ridge.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=35437

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Lancaster — A view in Portal Ridge includes the aqueduct.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=35438

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Lancaster — Kathryn Porter, a Lancaster resident and concerned citizen, checks a wildflower in her book in Portal Ridge. Residents are worried about the environmental effects of planned green-energy projects in Antelope Valley, especially a wind farm.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=35439

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Lancaster — Many migrating birds are found on Portal Ridge. Some people worry that birds could be harmed by the planned wind turbines.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=35440

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Lancaster — Jeff Olesh, left, and Vern Biehl view Angeles National Forest land to the south of Portal Ridge. They're among the area residents who don't want to see an industrial-scale wind farm in the area. Says Olesh, "This is what we're trying to save."

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

http://framework.latimes.com/?attachment_id=35441

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