TEHACHAPI, Calif. -- The Alta Oak Creek Mojave Project, if approved, will bring 720 new mega watts of power and 290 wind turbines to the Tehachapi area, enough to power 300,000 homes each year.

But power isn’t the only thing the project will be generating in the area.

Randy Hoyle with Terra-Gen Power said, "The Alta Oak Creek Mojave Project, the economic impact of that will be upwards of $30 million a year. So, that will be $600 million over the next 20 years that will be via labor, local labor, services, property taxes, and royalties.”

The project will have the greatest effects on residents of Old West Ranch, and many of them want to keep the wind turbines as far away from their property as possible.

If the Planning Commission approves Terra Gen Powers request to rezone the area, it means they will be able to put their wind turbines for the project as close as 500 feet to Old West Ranch residents’ property lines.

Resident Donna Moran said, “We bought here because it is rural, we want it to stay rural. We don’t want 500 foot structures on our property or next to our property.”

And while many residents simply don’t want to have a 500-foot turbine that close to their home, it is more then just aesthetics.

With winter just around the corner, ice being flung from the turbines or falling onto the access roads during the winter months is a serious concern for residents.

In the environmental impact report Terra Gen Power said ice throw should not be an issue.

It reads, “Ice throw over 330 feet, which is less than County’s setback of 500 feet for WTGs, has not been documented for any size WTG and no injuries due to ice throw have been reported.”

GE Energy is building some of the turbines for the planned project and listed in their health and safety procedures, they seem to think ice shed could be a safety issue stating, “All service vehicles, service personnel, contractors and operation employees outside of the wtg’s in the field, must leave all turbine areas until all ice has ceased to shed.”

But ice shed isn't the only concern, fire is another.

The Greater Tehachapi Fire Safe Council said wind turbines cause two to three fires each year.

Residents fear that the turbines would impede on air support during a wildfire.

Resident Barbara Granthan said, “I think our first and foremost concern is firefighting. With the towers looming 400 to 500 feet prevents the air support that would be needed to fight a fire up here.”

Residents are also concerned about the noise and light pollution that would come from the turbines.

But while some neighbors want to keep their wide open spaces clear of wind turbines, other neighbors support the project and are even leasing their land to Terra Gen Power.

Connie Ward is one of those landowners.

Ward said, "We decided instead of selling off the property in five acre parcels and bringing a bunch of housing into the area that we would give back to the community as a resource. We’ve had the turbines for over 25 years as it is, so it’s not something that’s different.”

Concerned residents said they are not opposed to the project, they just do not want wind turbines backing up to their back yards.

Those for and against the project as well as representatives from Terra Gen Power will have their chance to speak at the Planning Commissioners meeting on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Downtown Bakersfield.