School board denies survey request

Jeff Davis Parish School Board has denied an environmental survey request after representatives for Vestas and Steelhead Americas, LLC failed to attend a planned meeting.

“If they can’t find the time for us, then I say that we vote no and drop this,” said Don Dees, who represents District 5. District 12 member Jason Bouley seconded the motion.

Right of Way Services, Inc. is representing Vestas as the latter seeks to bring the Bayou Wind Energy Project to Jeff Davis. Vestas wants to lease land within the parish and obtain permission to install wind turbines. The company has eyed the school board’s 16th Section land in the northern part of the parish in hopes of conducting an Environmental and Wildlife survey there.

However, the company has not detailed what this survey would consist of, according to Superintendent Kirk Credeur and school board members. Credeur said during a Tuesday meeting of the 16th Section Committee that he twice requested a representative attend a meeting to answer board member’s questions. However, he never received a response.

In June, Jennings Daily News also reached out to Right of Way Services to obtain details on the survey and proposed energy project. However, the company did not respond to the newspaper’s request.