Construction begins on industrial wind turbines in Greenbrier County
While an opposition group holds out hope for an appeal, a Chicago-based wind energy company has begun construction of roads and turbine sites along ridgelines in northern Greenbrier County.
Beech Ridge Energy, Inc. began clear cutting in April and plans to build 119 giant wind turbines along 13 miles of ridgeline on Oldfield, Nunly, Cold Knob and Loop Mountains. The land is being leased from Mead-Westvaco, a Connecticut-based corporation.
The spinning turbine blades will reach nearly 400-feet into the sky and be visible for several miles, including some areas in Pocahontas County.
Beech Ridge says the project will cost $300 million and provide about 20 full-time jobs in addition to 200 temporary jobs during construction.
The completed project is expected to produce 186 megawatts of electricity. By comparison, the coal-burning plant in Mt. Storm produces more than 1600 megawatts, but burns more than 15,000 tons of coal daily, according to Dominion Power’s website.
In February, the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) ordered that Beech Ridge had met all of its pre-construction conditions, giving the corporation the green light to start building.
Mountain Communities for Responsible Energy (MCRE), a grassroots, non-profit group formed in Greenbrier County, has strenuously opposed the project. The group claims the adverse economic and environmental impact of the project will outweigh the benefit of the wind turbines.
MCRE made a last-ditch effort to stop the project with a petition to the state Supreme Court. The Court will hear oral arguments on September 2 to determine if it will hear the merits of MCRE’s appeal. MCRE will argue that Beech Ridge failed to provide sufficient expert testimony on archeological and environmental issues before the PSC and that the PSC incorrectly shifted the burden of proof to MCRE on multiple issues.
MCRE also plans to file an action in federal court because of endangered Indiana bats known to live in the area of the proposed turbines.
David Buhrman, MCRE director, said he was dismayed that Beech Ridge had proceeded with construction while legal action was still pending.
“These are actions we are taking within our government to show that we are disappointed with the Public Service Commission’s treatment of our opposition to this project,” he said. “That doesn’t seem to be affecting Beech Ridge in its plan to go ahead and build as many turbines as they can.”
Proponents of wind energy claim that wind power can help the US become independent of foreign oil sources. Opponents point out that only three percent of US oil consumption goes toward production of electricity.
MCRE operates a website at www.mcre.org, where a project map and viewshed can be found.
Geoff Hamill
Staff Writer
14 May 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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